< back
Takeshi MATSUDA
Sport Swimming
NOC Japan   
GenderMen
Born23 Jun 1984 in Nobeoka, JPN
Height1.84 m
Weight 84 kg
 Human Interest 
General Interest
Hobbies
 Surfing, playing the drums. (Swimming Magazine, 11 Apr 2013)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport?
 His sister swam at a club.
General Interest
Hero / Idol
 Australian swimmers Kieren Perkins and Grant Hackett. (TV Asahi, 22 Aug 2006)
Awards and honours
 He received the Nobeoka City Excellence Award in Japan in 2014 and 2015. (yukan-daily.co.jp, 01 Oct 2015; yukan-daily.co.jp, 09 Oct 2014)

In 2012 he received the Miyazaki Prefecture Special Honorary Award in Japan. (pref.miyazaki.lg.jp, 11 Sep 2012)

In 2012 he received the Kozuki Sports Award from the Kozuki Foundation in Japan. (kozuki.or.jp, 22 Aug 2012)
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport?
 He took up swimming at age four at Miyazaki East Sea Swimming School in Japan.
International Debut
Year
 2002
Competing for
 Japan
General Interest
Nicknames
 Takechan (TV Asahi, 18 Mar 2007)
Sporting philosophy / motto
 "Surpass myself." (seagaia.co.jp, 03 Aug 2015)
Other information
 RETIREMENT
He retired from competition after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (asahi.com, 23 Sep 2016)

EARLY DAYS
The media in Japan has referred to him as "the hero from a plastic greenhouse" due to his early days in the sport. He swam at the Toumi Swimming Club, which had no roof, making winter training difficult. The parents of the club's children got together and used a roof normally meant for a plastic greenhouse to cover the pool. (pref.miyazaki.lg.jp, 15 May 2008)

AUTOBIOGRAPHY
In 2012 he released his autobiography, "Beyond Myself: My Weakness Turned Into Strength". (amazon.co.jp, Jun 2012)

OTHER STUDIES
He has also studied at the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Japan. (Swimming Magazine, 11 Apr 2013)
Further Personal Information
Languages
 English, Japanese
International Debut
Location
 Yokohama, JPN
Tournament
 Pan Pacific Championships
Further Personal Information
Higher education
 Chukyo University: Japan

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
3 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:03.50
17 2012 London, ENG 100m Butterfly 52.36
3 2012 London, ENG 200m Butterfly 1:53.21 
2 2012 London, ENG 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:31.26
Heats 2008 Beijing, CHN 400m Freestyle 3:44.99
Heats 2008 Beijing, CHN 1500m Freestyle 15:09.17
3 2008 Beijing, CHN 200m Butterfly 1:52.97
13 2004 Athens, GRE 1500m Freestyle 15:16.42 
14 2004 Athens, GRE 200m Butterfly 1:58.13 
8 2004 Athens, GRE 400m Freestyle 3:48.96 
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Semifinal 2013 Barcelona, ESP 200m Butterfly 1:56.42
5 2013 Barcelona, ESP 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:04.95
2 2011 Shanghai, CHN 200m Butterfly 1:54.01
Heat 2011 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay  
4 2011 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
7 2011 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:10.92
4 2009 Rome, ITA 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:02.26
3 2009 Rome, ITA 200m Butterfly 1:53.32
Heat 2009 Rome, ITA 400m Freestyle 3:46.95
Heats 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 1500m Freestyle 15:06.28
Semifinal 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 200m Butterfly 1:56.57
Heats 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 400m Freestyle 3:49.26
7 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:17.46
2 2005 Montreal, CAN 200m Butterfly 1:55.62
7 2005 Montreal, CAN 400m Freestyle 3:48.60 
9 2005 Montreal, CAN 1500m Freestyle 15:13.39 
5 2005 Montreal, CAN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:13.60
World Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
  2004 Indianapolis, IN, USA 200m Freestyle  DSQ
15 2004 Indianapolis, IN, USA 100m Butterfly 53.54
6 2004 Indianapolis, IN, USA 400m Freestyle 3:46.59
8 2004 Indianapolis, IN, USA 200m Butterfly 1:55.85
6 2004 Indianapolis, IN, USA 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:36.93
World Cup Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
6 2013 Berlin, GER 200m Butterfly 1:53.53
6 2013 Eindhoven, NED 200m Butterfly 1:52.34
7 2013 Eindhoven, NED 100m Butterfly 52.03
3 2013 Tokyo, JPN 200m Butterfly 1:51.55
5 2011   Overall  
1 2011 Tokyo, JPN 200m Butterfly 1:49.50
2 2011 Tokyo, JPN 200m Freestyle 1:43.99
7 2010   Overall  
1 2010 Tokyo, JPN 200m Butterfly 1:50.64
1 2010 Tokyo, JPN 200m Freestyle 1:43.93
3 2005/2006 Berlin, GER 200m Butterfly 1:54.05
3 2005/2006 Stockholm, SWE 400m Freestyle 3:42.59
2 2005/2006 Stockholm, SWE 1500m Freestyle 14:39.06
2 2004/2005 Berlin, GER 200m Butterfly 1:53.80
1 2004/2005 Moscow, RUS 200m Butterfly 1:54.14
1 2004/2005 Stockholm, SWE 200m Butterfly 1:53.59
3 2004/2005 Stockholm, SWE 1500m Freestyle 14:44.68
2 2003/2004 Berlin, GER 200m Butterfly 1:54.18
3 2003/2004 Berlin, GER 1500m Freestyle 14:45.94
1 2003/2004 Stockholm, SWE 200m Butterfly 1:53.67
3 2003/2004 Stockholm, SWE 200m Freestyle 1:46.91
3 2003/2004 Stockholm, SWE 1500m Freestyle 14:53.94
Asian Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
4 2014 Incheon, KOR 200m Freestyle 1:49.64
1 2014 Incheon, KOR 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:06.74
3 2010 Guangzhou, CHN 200m Freestyle 1:47.73
1 2010 Guangzhou, CHN 200m Butterfly 1:54.02 CR
4 2010 Guangzhou, CHN 400m Freestyle 3:51.65
2 2010 Guangzhou, CHN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:10.39
2 2006 Doha, QAT 200m Butterfly 1:55.49
3 2006 Doha, QAT 400m Freestyle 3:49.38
3 2006 Doha, QAT 1500m Freestyle 15:17.18
1 2006 Doha, QAT 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:14.86
7 2002 Busan, KOR 1500m Freestyle 15:57.29
3 2002 Busan, KOR 200m Butterfly 1:57.26
7 2002 Busan, KOR 400m Freestyle 4:02.98