Yusei Imaizumi Breaks World Junior Record in 100m Short Course Breaststroke at 56.35 Seconds in Niigata Prefectural High School Tournament, Japan Leads Golden Generation in Swimming

In the quiet space of a national high school tournament in Niigata, Japan, on September 4, 2026, Yusei Imaizumi wrote a new page in the history of swimming. This 17-year-old boy, born in the strong school swimming system in Japan, swam the 100-meter short-course breaststroke in 56.35 seconds. This is not just a number, but a living proof of the unstoppable strength and development of the Japanese youth generation, where swimming athletes are building a brilliant future for this sport. The 25-meter short-course pool at this tournament witnessed an intense race, where Imaizumi did not only lead from the start but also maintained an excellent pace, ending only 0.06 seconds after Shin Ohashi's back half - who previously held the youth record with 56.65 seconds.