Ryosuke Irie Downs Japanese Record in 200 Back

By Hideki Mochizuki, Swimming World Japanese Correspondent

NISHINOMIYA, Japan, January 25. Japanese Olympian Ryosuke Irie downed his national record in the men's 200-meter backstroke over the long course this weekend.

At the Konami Open held in Nishinomiya, Japan, Irie rocketed to a time of 1:54.74 to edge the 1:54.77 he set at the Japan Open in June.

"I really did not have a good race in Beijing," Irie said of his fifth-place finish in the 200 back in Beijing. "This record has boosted my confidence for the upcoming season."

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