Reiko Nakamura

is a Japanese Olympic and Asian record-holding swimmer.

Swimming career Nakamura retired from swimming in 2008, after her final Olympic Games. At the time she retired, she was the current Asian record holder in both the 100 m and 200 m women’s backstroke disciplines.

Olympics She swam in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, winning the bronze medals in the 200m backstroke at both editions. In doing so, she became the first Japanese woman in 72 years to win medals at consecutive Olympic games. She retired shortly after achieving this, in October 2008.

Records

World records Nakamura held the Women’s 100-meter backstroke world record between March 4, 2001 and November 29, 2001.

She also held the Women’s 200-meter short course backstroke world record between February 23, 2008 and April 11, 2008. Nakamura claimed the record by swimming 2:03.24 at the Japan Open short course swimming championships, beating Natalie Coughlan’s previous record of 2:03.62 set in 2001.

Olympic records At the 2008 Olympics, Nakamura set the Asian Records and Japanese Records in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes (59.36 and 2:07.13).

Pan Pacific Championship records. Nakamura set a new Pan Pacific Championships Women’s 200 m backstroke record of 2:08.86 during her gold medal winning swim at the 2006 Championships held in Victoria, Canada.