On 3 October 2026, Yasu will take on the OCEANMAN Malta 10KM at Ghadira Bay, Malta.

As part of his ongoing campaign towards the LA 2028 Olympic Games, this international open-water race represents another important milestone in his return to the highest level of competition.

The 10KM event will provide Yasu with an opportunity to test his current form against an international field and further build the race experience required for the challenges ahead.

Following his return to elite competition, Yasu continues to compete internationally with a clear long-term objective: to earn the opportunity to represent Japan at the LA 2028 Olympic Games.

Every race is part of the journey.

One race at a time. One goal in sight. LA 2028.

On 23 August 2026, Yasu will compete in IRONMAN 70.3 Tallinn in Tallinn, Estonia.

This race marks the second event in his Road to Kona campaign and represents another important milestone on his journey toward qualifying for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.

As Yasu continues to build endurance and race experience over the middle-distance format, each event brings him one step closer to achieving his long-term goal of competing at the highest level of triathlon.

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On 29 March 2026, I won the Oceanman World Series 10km race in Krabi, becoming the first Japanese male to achieve this title.🏊🥇🌏

It was my first 10km race in seven years. Back in 2019, I honestly believed I might never race 10km again — or even return to open water swimming at all.

The conditions in Krabi were extremely challenging: water temperatures exceeding 30°C, swarms of jellyfish, and at around the 4km mark, I was struck on the inner side of my left upper arm by a jellyfish. From that point, I lost almost all sensation in my left arm for the remaining 6km. I had to carefully manage my pace and heart rate to avoid dehydration and overheating in such extreme conditions.

The race strongly reminded me of my first World Championships in Shanghai in 2011 under World Aquatics. During the swim, memories came flooding back — competing alongside legends of open water swimming such as Spyridon Gianniotis, Thomas Lurz, Ky Hurst, Petar Stoychev, Brian Ryckeman, and Valerio Cleri. They were the generation above me, and at 21 years old, I remember being in awe of their ability to perform at the highest level well into their 30s.

Now, I find myself at the same age they were back then, still competing at the world level.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have shared the era of these pioneers who helped shape the Olympic history of open water swimming. Each of them had a unique style and presence, and all of them have played a role in shaping the athlete I am today.

My focus now is to qualify for next year’s World Championships by winning the Japanese national selection race this autumn. Beyond that, I will continue my journey toward LA 2028, chasing the dream of an Olympic medal at 37, inspired by athletes like Spyridon Gianniotis.