On 3 October 2026, Japanese Olympian Yasu Hirai claimed victory in the 10km race at OCEANMAN Malta, held at Ghadira Bay, Malta.

Yasu would like to express his sincere gratitude to Karl Izzo, President of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta (ASA), and everyone involved in organising this outstanding event. Their dedication, hospitality, and support made this race an unforgettable experience, both in and out of the water.

■ Next Stop: OCEANMAN World Final in the Dominican Republic

Following his victory in Malta, Yasu is preparing for the OCEANMAN World Final, which will take place in the Dominican Republic in November 2026. Having secured his qualification, he looks forward to competing against elite open-water swimmers from around the world.

He is also working towards his goal of returning to the World Championships as a representative of Japan for the first time in eight years.

■ The Ultimate Goal: Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games

For Yasu, this victory represents much more than success in a single race. It is another important milestone in his comeback journey as he continues to challenge himself on the international stage.

A two-time Olympian, having competed at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Yasunari is now working towards a return to the Olympic stage at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28).

Every race, every training session, and every new challenge brings him one step closer to that dream. He remains committed to pushing his limits, embracing new opportunities, and continuing to compete at the highest level of open-water swimming.

“My journey is far from over.”

Yasunari will continue to pursue his ambitions with determination as he works towards his ultimate goal of competing at LA28.

Thank you for your continued support and encouragement as he takes the next steps in his journey.

Yasu has been featured in Forbes Greece in a special article highlighting the upcoming Santorini Experience 2026, an international open-water swimming event taking place on October 17, 2026, on the Greek island of Santorini.

The article introduces Yasu as an invited athlete competing in the event.

Japanese Olympian Yasu attended Global Sport Agora London 2026 for the second consecutive year, following his participation in the 2025 edition. Held on 8 October at the historic Guildhall in London, the international forum was organised by the World Academy of Sport (WAoS) in collaboration with the City of London Corporation, bringing together senior leaders from international sport, business and government to discuss the future of the global sports industry.

Yasu’s participation for the second consecutive year reflects his continued engagement with the international sports business community and his commitment to exploring new opportunities at the intersection of sport, investment and business.

The central theme of this year’s forum was “Building Sport as an Asset Class,” exploring how investment, effective governance and collaboration across the sporting ecosystem can generate sustainable, long-term economic and social value.

Placing Athletes at the Centre of Sport’s Future

Drawing on his experience as a two-time Olympian who has navigated retirement and returned to competitive swimming, Yasu emphasised the importance of placing athletes at the centre of the evolving relationship between sport and business.

As sport increasingly attracts investment from global financial markets, discussions highlighted the need to balance commercial growth with athlete well-being, sporting integrity and meaningful connections with fans.

Key topics included athlete rights, biometric data, artificial intelligence, post-retirement career support, athlete health and investment in grassroots sport. The discussions also underscored the importance of transparent governance, clear accountability and shared values in building a sustainable sporting ecosystem.

Yasu believes that athletes should be recognised not merely as commercial assets but as essential stakeholders in shaping the future of sport. Protecting sport’s intrinsic values while maximising its commercial potential is fundamental to creating lasting value for athletes, fans and society.

Connecting Japanese Sport with the Global Business Ecosystem

The event provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives and strengthen connections with international leaders across sport, governance and investment.

Among the distinguished participants were Pernilla Wiberg, OLY, President of the World Olympians Association and two-time Olympic gold medallist, and Tony Asghar, Founder and Managing Partner of Revolution Sports Investment.

A networking dinner at The Skyline London on 7 October preceded the main conference at Guildhall, providing further opportunities for international dialogue and collaboration.

Yasu sees significant potential in connecting Japan’s world-class athletes, technological capabilities and distinctive sporting culture with the global sports business ecosystem. Building international partnerships and developing new opportunities at the intersection of sport and business remain key areas of focus for his future activities.

Looking Ahead

Having participated in Global Sport Agora for the second consecutive year, Yasu will continue to draw on his experience as an Olympian and his international network to contribute to the development of sport as both a commercial sector and a force for positive social impact.

Yasu expressed his sincere appreciation to Chris Solly, Michael Cary and the World Academy of Sport for the opportunity to participate in this year’s forum.

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