JAKARTA -- Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee grabbed her third gold at the Asian Games in Jakarta after victories in the women's 50-meter butterfly and the 100 freestyle on Monday.
"I am happy that I could reach my goal of getting two golds," Ikee said after adding to her victory on Sunday in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
Ikee earlier Monday swam in the final of the 50 butterfly, which she finished in an Asian Games record of 25.55 seconds to edge out China's Wang Yichun by 0.48 seconds.
Following the medal ceremony and just 40 minutes after the start of the butterfly event, the 100 freestyle final began. When she was asked about the short recovery time between events, Ikee replied, "I am actually enjoying it."
China's Zhu Menghui reached the 50-meter mark 0.51 seconds ahead of Ikee in the freestyle.
"I didn't feel rushed at all, and I could see the side lane while I was swimming," Ikee said.
Ikee was able to calmly assess the situation. "I thought [Zhu] would probably get tired in the latter half," based on her observation of Zhu's previous performances.
As Ikee expected, she passed Zhu and finished in 53.27, setting yet another Asian Games record.
Ikee is set to participate in eight finals during the Asian Games, having won gold in all three finals in which she has appeared so far.
"Honestly, I feel a bit of fatigue, so I am going to shift the plan from going for a good time to simply aiming for the gold," Ikee said.
Monday's finals also included Ryosuke Irie earning silver in the men's 50 backstroke, and Kosuke Hagino finishing second in the men's 200 individual medley.
Kanako Watanabe earned a second consecutive victory in the women's 200 breaststroke, while Reona Aoki was third.
In the final event of the day, Japan again fought a fierce competition with China in the men's 4x200 freestyle relay, winning by finishing 0.28 ahead of China in 7:05.17. Leadoff swimmer Naito Ehara finished first in his leg in 1:47.31, and second swimmer Reo Sakata and No. 3 man Kosuke Hagino finished their respective legs ahead of China.
Japan anchor Katsuhiro Matsumoto finished by going up against China's Sun Yang.
"I knew Sun was good in the second half," Matsumoto said. "All I cared about was widening the gap in the first half," said Matsumoto, who was able to hold onto the lead.
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