Fujihara Breaks Legendary Terence Parkin Deaflympics Record

2017 Deaflympics – Swimming

• July 20th-July 26th, 2017
• Samsun, Turkey
• Results

Team Russia continued to rack up the medals on day 2 of the 2017 Deaflympics swimming events. In total, they’ve already won 8 of the 12 events on offer.

But the man who stole the show was Japanese 21-year old Satoi Fujihara. He won the men’s 400 IM in 4:28.49, which broke the Deaflympics record set by Deaflympic legend Terence Parkin from South Africa in 2009. Parkin’s old record was 4:29.56. Parkin, a 2000 Olympic silver medalist in the 200 breaststroke, is one of the most successful alumni in the history of the Deaflympics.

That was one of three Deaflympic Records set on the day, while the other two were also Deaf Swimming World Records.

In the women’s 100 backstroke, Russian Olga Kljuchnikova swam a 1:02.61 to break both the Deaflympics and World Record in the event. She set both records in a relay leadoff earlier in the meet in 1:03.28. Russia finished 1-2 in the women’s backstroke, with teenager Eleonora Brykanova placing 2nd in 1:05.80.

In the men’s 800 free relay, Russia swam 7:40.91 to break their own National and World Record by more than 6 seconds. Russia swam 7:47.00 at the 2013 Deaflympics to set the old mark. Japan, the silver medalists, were 11 seconds away for 2nd.

Other Day 2 Winners:

• Britain’s Jack McComish won the men’s 100 breaststroke in 1:04.11 – a come-from-behind out-touching of Russian Martin Fomin, who was 2nd in 1:04.11.
• Russia’s Alena Alexeeva won the women’s 100 fly in 1:04.22.
• Russia’s Viktoria Terenteva won the women’s 800 free in 9:16.59 – 20 seconds better than her next-closest competitor, Yuchen Hu of China.