Amin Abbas

DUBAI: Japanese world champion swimmer Daiya Seto spoke exclusively to Arab News Japan about his gold medal win in the 400-metre individual medley at the 2012, 2014, and 2016 world short course championships, as well as at the 2013 and 2015 world long course championships.

Seto holds the world records in the short course 200-metre butterfly and the 400-metre individual medley.

Seto was the first Asian swimmer to become a world champion in an individual medley event. He recently participated in FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking to Arab News Japan, Seto shared his inspiration for his career, saying: “Growing up I always admired Michael Phelps. He was my inspiration that made me follow a career in swimming. I wanted to be just like him, to be able to swim and hold records in various disciplines like him.”

The swimmer said he started swimming when he was five years old, and competed in his first competition at six years old.

His first participation at the FINA World Swimming Championships was in 2012 in Turkey. He won the gold medal in 400m.

Speaking of his participation in the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) that happened recently in Abu Dhabi, Seto said: “I started focusing on this event immediately after Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics & I did a high-altitude training to enhance the oxygen carrying capacity. I’m glad that I won the golden medals in both 200-metre & 400-metre individual medley competitions.”

Seto said he was constantly working to improve his performance and his next goal was to win a gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024.