Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan and Chinese Taipei Make Swimming History at Asian Games

Three nations broke new ground in the pool at the Asian Games 2026 in Tokyo. Bahrain and Kyrgyzstan won their first-ever Asian Games swimming medals. Chinese Taipei won its first men's swimming gold at the Games.

Bahrain's Mikhail Arkhangelskiy won the men's 50m butterfly in 22.91. That equalled the Asian record. Japan's Shoon Mitsunaga took silver in 23.06, and China's Wang Changhao took bronze in 23.25. It was Bahrain's first swimming medal at the Games, and it was gold.

Kyrgyzstan's Denis Petrashov took silver in the men's 200m breaststroke in 2:08.67. He finished behind Japan's Shin Ohashi, who broke the world record in the same race.

Chinese Taipei's Wang Kuan-hung won the men's 200m butterfly in 1:55.05. The 24-year-old edged China's Xu Fang, who clocked 1:55.65. South Korea's Kim Min-seop took bronze in 1:55.94. Wang called the win "a dream come true".