is a Japanese Olympic and Asian record-holding swimmer.
Nakamura retired from swimming in 2008, after her final Olympic Games. At the time she retired, she was the current Asian record holder in both the 100 m and 200 m womenâÂÂs backstroke disciplines.
She swam in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, winning the bronze medals in the 200m backstroke at both editions. In doing so, she became the first Japanese woman in 72 years to win medals at consecutive Olympic games. She retired shortly after achieving this, in October 2008.
Nakamura won the gold medal in the 200 m backstroke at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships held in Victoria, Canada. In doing so, she set a new Pan Pacific Championships record in the event, swimming 2:08.86. This beat the previous record of 2:10.02, set by her teammate Takami Igarashi earlier that same day in the qualifying heats.
Nakamura held the WomenâÂÂs 100-meter backstroke world record between March 4, 2001 and November 29, 2001.
She also held the WomenâÂÂs 200-meter short course backstroke world record between February 23, 2008 and April 11, 2008. Nakamura claimed the record by swimming 2:03.24 at the Japan Open short course swimming championships, beating Natalie CoughlanâÂÂs previous record of 2:03.62 set in 2001.
At the 2008 Olympics, Nakamura set the Asian Records and Japanese Records in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes (59.36 and 2:07.13).
At the 2007 World Championships, she swam to a new Japanese Record in the 100 back (1:00.40) in finishing third. Eight days later, she lowered the mark to 1:00.29 in winning the 2007 Japan Championships.
Nakamura set a new Pan Pacific Championships WomenâÂÂs 200 m backstroke record of 2:08.86 during her gold medal winning swim at the 2006 Championships held in Victoria, Canada.