TOKYO – Reiko Nakamura lowered the world short-course record in the 200 metres backstroke, and Yuko Nakanishi set a new 200 metres butterfly world mark at the Japan Open short-course swimming championships on Saturday.

Reiko Nakamura surpassed the women’s 200 backstroke by 0.38 seconds finishing in 2 minutes, 3.24 seconds.

The former record of 2:03.62 was held by Amerca’s Natalie Coughlin who set the mark at a world cup meet in East Meadow (New York) on November 27, 2001.

Yuko Nakanishi smashed the women's 200 metres butterfly world record touching in 2 minutes, 3.12 seconds.

The previous record of 2:03.53 was held by Poland's Otylia Jedrzejczak after she won gold for this event at the 2007 SC Europeans in Debrecen on December 7.