Japanese swimmer sets FINA World Cup alight with world junior record in Tokyo

Japan's Rikako Ikee set a world junior record in the 100m butterfly ©Getty Images

Japan’s Rikako Ikee set a world junior record time to power to gold in the women’s 100 metres butterfly on the opening day of the sixth International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Cup event of the season on home soil in Tokyo today.

Ikee, a 15-year-old who won the event at the recent World Junior Championships in Singapore, clocked the eighth fastest time of the year, touching the wall in 57.56sec, finishing comfortably ahead of American Felicia Lee and team-mate Natsumi Hoshi.

Elsewhere, men’s overall standings leader Cameron Van der Burgh of South Africa took another giant leap towards securing a third World Cup crown, surging to victory in the men’s 50m breaststroke, claiming gold in a time of 27.18.

That proved enough to finish ahead of compatriot Giulio Zorzi, with home favourite Ryouta Nomura coming through to take third.

“The main goal when I came on the tour was to do as much racing as I could,” Van der Burgh, Olympic champion in the 100m breaststroke, said.

“We changed a few things in the stroke technique, and you need time to practice that, but what better place to do that than the World Cup, and pick up a little bit of pocket money along the way.”

Defending women’s champion Katinka Hosszú of Hungary remains on course to successfully retain her title as she picked up another two victories, starting in the 200m freestyle, where she clocked 1min 56.67sec to clinch gold in front of team-mate Zsuzsanna Jakabos and Australia's Leah Neale.

The six-times world gold medallist then went on to claim the 200m individual medley honours in 2:09.85, with American Caitlin Leverenz of the United States second and Japan’s Runa Imai third.

Hungary's defending World Cup champion Katinka Hosszú picked up two golds on the opening day of the latest leg of the series in Tokyo ©Getty Images

Double Olympic champion Emily Seebohm of Australia beat the Hungarian in the 200m backstroke, coming back from 0.3 seconds behind Hosszú to seal gold, with Japan's Natsumi Sakai holding on for bronze.

Seebohm, like her Hungarian counterpart, picked up two wins on the opening day as she also reigned supreme in the 50m backstroke in 27.49.

American Natalie Coughlin secured silver, while Miyuki Takemura added another medal to the hosts’ tally by clinching the final spot on the podium.

Katsumi Nakamura had earlier delighted the home crowd, claiming his third straight 100m freestyle victory in the World Cup series, adding to triumphs in Beijing and Singapore, finishing in 49.17.

Team-mate Shinri Shioura was second and Australian Blake Jones took bronze.

Japan also won the men's 400m freestyle thanks to Yousuke Miyamoto, who clocked 3:49.68, while compatriot Yukumi Moriyama topped the podium in the women's 800m freestyle in 8:40.98.