Takashi Nakano

{{Infobox swimmer

| name = Takashi Nakano

| image =

| caption =

| national_team = {{JPN}}

| strokes = Backstroke

| club = Mizuno

| coach =

| collegeteam =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|7|21|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Tachikawa, Tokyo, Japan

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{height|m=1.73|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|64|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}

| medaltemplates=

| show-medals = yes

| updated =

}}

{{Nihongo|Takashi Nakano|中野高|Nakano Takashi|born July 21, 1984}} is a Japanese former swimmer, who specialized in backstroke events.{{cite sports-reference|title = Takashi Nakano|url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/na/takashi-nakano-1.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200417211941/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/na/takashi-nakano-1.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 17 April 2020|access-date = 3 December 2012}}{{cite web|title=Takashi Nakano|url=http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/9/240379.shtml|publisher=Beijing 2008|accessdate=21 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915143335/http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/9/240379.shtml|archivedate=15 September 2008}} He collected a total of three silver medals in the 200 m backstroke at the Universiade (2003 in Daegu, 2005 in İzmir, and 2007 in Bangkok).{{cite news|title=Chinese Ouyang Wins Men's 200m Backstroke at Universiade|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200308/25/eng20030825_122986.shtml|publisher=People's Daily|date=25 August 2003|accessdate=6 April 2013}}{{cite news|title=World University Games: First Night of Action at the World University Games Presents World-Class Performances|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/15410.asp|publisher=Swimming World Magazine|date=9 August 2007|accessdate=6 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126093915/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/15410.asp|archivedate=26 January 2012}}{{cite news|title=World University Games, Day 1: Jendrick Sizzles in 50 Breaststroke|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/9924.asp|publisher=Swimming World Magazine|date=12 August 2005|accessdate=6 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050815014515/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/9924.asp|archivedate=15 August 2005}} Nakano is also a graduate of Hosei University in Tokyo.

Nakano made his international debut at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, where he earned a silver medal in the 200 m backstroke, clocking at 2:00.78.{{cite news|title=Wu and Qi Win Third Gold Apiece, as China Winds Up a Dominant Performance at Asian Games|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/4193.asp|publisher=Swimming World Magazine|date=5 October 2002|accessdate=6 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228210352/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/4193.asp|archivedate=28 December 2013}}

At the 2005 FINA World Championships in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Nakano broke the two-minute barrier, but rounded out the final field in last place by 0.17 of a second behind Croatia's Gordan Kozulj in 1:58.91.{{cite news|title=World Champs, Day 6 Evening Session: United States Stalking Gold in Men's 800 Freestyle Relay|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/9816.asp|publisher=Swimming World Magazine|date=29 July 2005|accessdate=6 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130630093200/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/9816.asp|archivedate=30 June 2013}} Nakano also improved his personal best to 1:59.34, adding a bronze to his silver from Busan in the same stroke at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.{{cite news|last=Marsteller|first=Jason|title=China Women, Japan Men Dominate Third Day of Asian Games|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/12894.asp|publisher=Swimming World Magazine|date=4 December 2006|accessdate=6 April 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508154643/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/12894.asp|archivedate=8 May 2012}}

Nakano competed for the Japanese squad in the men's 200 m backstroke at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Leading up to the Games, he placed second behind Ryosuke Irie at the Olympic trials in Tokyo with a FINA A-standard entry time of 1:58.22.{{cite news|title=Japanese Olympic Trials: Kosuke Kitajima Just Off 200 Breast World Record|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/17890.asp|publisher=Swimming World Magazine|date=19 April 2008|accessdate=3 December 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208020712/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/17890.asp|archivedate=8 December 2012}} He challenged seven other swimmers on the fourth heat, including Austrian duo Sebastian Stoss and two-time Olympic silver medalist Markus Rogan. Nakano raced to sixth place by a 0.15 of a second behind Stoss in a time of 1:59.59. Nakano missed out the semifinals by 0.65 of a second, as he placed twenty-first overall in the preliminary heats.{{cite web|title=Men's 200m Backstroke Heat 4|url=http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/swimming/resultsandschedules/rsc=SWM042900/index.html|work=Beijing 2008|publisher=NBC Olympics|accessdate=3 December 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821061614/http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/swimming/resultsandschedules/rsc%3DSWM042900/index.html|archivedate=21 August 2012}}

At the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, Italy, Nakano broke his personal best of 1:57.02 in the 200 m backstroke, but finished only in twelfth place and did not qualify for the final.{{cite web|title=2009 FINA World Championships (Rome, Italy) – Men's 200m Backstroke Semifinals|url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=0001090B0042000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01|format=PDF|publisher=Omega Timing|accessdate=6 April 2013}}