6th gold gives Ikee a record 8th medal at Asian Games

Japan’s Rikako Ikee hold sup her gold medal after winning the women’s 50m freestyle final during the swimming competition at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Rikako Ikee has won the 50-meter freestyle title to secure a record-equaling eighth medal at a single Asian Games.

The 18-year-old Japanese swimmer equaled the medal total mark set in 1982 by North Korean shooter So Gin Man when she held off China’s Liu Xiang and Wu Qingfeng to win in 24.53 seconds Friday in the Jakarta pool.

“Of all my races I was the most nervous before this one,” Ikee was quoted as saying. “I really didn’t think I was going to win. But at the end, I absolutely did not want to lose.”

Ikee became the first woman to win six gold medals and the first to win eight medals at a single Asiad.

It has been a big program for Ikee, who is aiming to be one of the stars in the pool at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.