Takeshi Matsuda
Takeshi Matsuda is a retired Japanese Olympic, Asian and National Record holding swimmer. He swam for Japan at the [Japan at the Japan at the 2004 Summer Olympics|2004 Summer Olympics|2004], 2008 Olympics, 2012 Olympics, and 2016 Olympics, winning four medals. At the 2008 Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the men's 200 m butterfly in an Asian Record of 1:52.97; in doing so, he also set the [List of Japanese people|Japanese records in swimming|Japanese Record] in the event. On November 12, 2011, Matsuda set a new Japanese record at the FINA World Cup for the short course 200 m butterfly. In doing so, he became just the third swimmer in history to break the 1:50 barrier for the event.
Career
Early years
Matsuda was born in the rural town of Nobeoka, Miyazaki, where he began swimming at the age of 4 at a local pool. Since then, he has trained with the same coach, Yumiko Kuze, a rare female coach in the world of men's swimming. She was a swimmer in her youth and began as a volunteer coach at the local pool.2004 Olympics
At the 2004 Olympic Games, Matsuda placed 8th in the 400 m freestyle final.2008 Olympics
In the final of the men's 200m butterfly at the 2008 Olympics, he finished 3rd to claim bronze. He came behind Michael Phelps and László Cseh, with a time of 1:52.97, an Asian record.2012 Olympics
At the 2012 Olympics, Matsuda won two medals. He defended his bronze medal in the 200 meter butterfly and swam the butterfly leg for Japan's silver medal-winning relay team in the 4 × 100 meter medley relay with Ryosuke Irie, Kosuke Kitajima, and Takuro Fujii. He also swam the 100 meter butterfly, where he tied for sixteenth in the heats and subsequently lost a swim-off with Benjamin Starke of Germany, shutting him out of the semifinals.2016 Olympics
At his final Olympics, Matsuda won a bronze medal in the 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay.Personal bests
In long course- 400m freestyle: 3:44.99 Former Japanese Record
- 800m freestyle: 7:49.65 Japanese Record
- 200m butterfly: 1:52.97 Asian Record
- 200m butterfly: 1:49.50 Former Japanese Record