Yuko Nakanishi is a swimmer who has competed for Japan. She competed at the 2000, 2004, and 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
After placing seventh in Sydney 2000, Nakanishi arrived at her second Games as one of the medal favorites four years later in Athens. There, she fought off a sprint challenge against Kaitlin Sandeno at the final lap to snatch a bronze in the 200 metres butterfly by 0.14 of a second. She also cleared a minute barrier in the semifinals of the 100, but she dropped to the fourteenth spot.
Nakanishi continued to swim the butterfly double (100 and 200) at Beijing 2008, but she slipped off the podium to fifth in her pet race (200) and missed the semifinals in the 100.
Olympic Results[]
| Year | Event | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Women's 200m butterfly | 7th |
| 2004 | Women's 100m butterfly | 14th |
| Women's 200m butterfly | 
| |
| 2008 | Women's 100m butterfly | 18th |
| Women's 200m butterfly | 5th |
2000[]
| Discipline | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 200 metres butterfly | Heats | 2:10.22 |
| Semifinal | 2:09.89 | |
| Final | 2:09.66 |
2004[]
| Discipline | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 100 metres butterfly | Heats | 1:00.16 |
| Semifinal | 59.53 | |
| Final | Did not advance | |
| 200 metres butterfly | Heats | 2:10.04 |
| Semifinal | 2:08.83 | |
| Final | 2:08.04 |
2008[]
| Discipline | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 100 metres butterfly | Heats | 58.61 |
| Semifinal | Did not advance | |
| Final | ||
| 200 metres butterfly | Heats | 2:06.62 |
| Semifinal | 2:06.96 | |
| Final | 2:07.32 |