Kosuke Kitajima
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese multiple Olympic gold medalist breaststroke
swimmer. He won gold medal
s for the men's 100 m and 200 m breaststroke
at both the Athens 2004
and Beijing 2008
Olympics.
. He is also bronze medal winner in the same Olympics in the 4×100 m medley relay. He edged out his main rival Brendan Hansen who finished fourth while Kitajima won the gold medal and set the new world record.
He received four gold medals and two bronze medals in 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
His most significant rival on the breaststroke is the American swimmer Brendan Hansen
. They dueled at events such as the 2005 World Championships
, 2004 Summer Olympics
and 2003 World Championships
. Kitajima set both world records for 100 m and 200 m breaststroke in the latter occasion. Later his best in 200 m was overcome by Dimitri Komornikov and then by Hansen, who also broke Kitajima's record in the 100 m. Kitajima regained the world record (58.91) in the 100 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
Kitajima regained the 200 m breaststroke world record in June 2008 at the Japan Open. His time of 2:07.51 shaved nearly a second off the previous record of 2:08.50 set by Hansen in 2006.
During the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Kitajima generated buzz for his primal screams of exuberance after edging out Hansen in the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke for the gold. At a pool side interview (3'24") following his victory in the 100 m, Kosuke Kitajima also popularised the phrase 'cho-kimochi-ii,' meaning "I feel really good." The word went on to win the 2004 U-Can Neoligisms and Vogue Words contest.
Breaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
swimmer. He won gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
s for the men's 100 m and 200 m breaststroke
Breaststroke
The breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on his or her chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to its stability and the ability to keep the head out of the water a large portion of the time. In most swimming classes, beginners learn...
at both the Athens 2004
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
and Beijing 2008
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
Olympics.
Major achievements
Kitajima is a decorated swimmer in the world championships and was the world record holder in the 100 m breaststroke that he set in the 2008 Beijing Olympics – this mark has since been bettered by Brenton RickardBrenton Rickard
Brenton Scott Rickard is a breaststroke swimmer from Australia. He emerged at the international level in 2006, swimming at the Commonwealth games...
. He is also bronze medal winner in the same Olympics in the 4×100 m medley relay. He edged out his main rival Brendan Hansen who finished fourth while Kitajima won the gold medal and set the new world record.
He received four gold medals and two bronze medals in 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
His most significant rival on the breaststroke is the American swimmer Brendan Hansen
Brendan Hansen
Brendan Joseph Hansen is an American breaststroke swimmer and four-time Olympic medalist...
. They dueled at events such as the 2005 World Championships
2005 World Aquatics Championships
The 2005 World Aquatics Championships or the XI FINA World Championships were held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from July 16 to July 31, 2005...
, 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
and 2003 World Championships
2003 World Aquatics Championships
Barcelona, Spain was the host city of the X FINA World Aquatics Championships or the 10th FINA World Championships in Aquatics, which were held from July 12 until July 27, 2003....
. Kitajima set both world records for 100 m and 200 m breaststroke in the latter occasion. Later his best in 200 m was overcome by Dimitri Komornikov and then by Hansen, who also broke Kitajima's record in the 100 m. Kitajima regained the world record (58.91) in the 100 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
Kitajima regained the 200 m breaststroke world record in June 2008 at the Japan Open. His time of 2:07.51 shaved nearly a second off the previous record of 2:08.50 set by Hansen in 2006.
During the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Kitajima generated buzz for his primal screams of exuberance after edging out Hansen in the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke for the gold. At a pool side interview (3'24") following his victory in the 100 m, Kosuke Kitajima also popularised the phrase 'cho-kimochi-ii,' meaning "I feel really good." The word went on to win the 2004 U-Can Neoligisms and Vogue Words contest.
Medals
- Gold Medal
- 100 m breaststroke – 2003 World Championships2003 World Aquatics ChampionshipsBarcelona, Spain was the host city of the X FINA World Aquatics Championships or the 10th FINA World Championships in Aquatics, which were held from July 12 until July 27, 2003....
(long course) in Barcelona, Spain. - 200 m breaststroke – 2003 World Championships2003 World Aquatics ChampionshipsBarcelona, Spain was the host city of the X FINA World Aquatics Championships or the 10th FINA World Championships in Aquatics, which were held from July 12 until July 27, 2003....
(long course) in Barcelona, Spain. - 100 m breaststroke – 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens, Greece. - 200 m breaststroke – 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens, Greece. - 200 m breaststroke – 2007 World Championships2007 World Aquatics ChampionshipsThe 2007 World Aquatics Championships or the XII FINA World Championships were held in Melbourne, Australia from 17 March to 1 April 2007...
(long course) in Melbourne, Australia. - 100 m breaststroke – world record – 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer OlympicsThe 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing, China. - 200 m breaststroke – 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer OlympicsThe 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing, China.
- 100 m breaststroke – 2003 World Championships
- Silver Medal
- 100 m breaststroke – 2002 FINA Short Course World Championships2002 FINA Short Course World ChampionshipsThe 6th FINA Short Course World Championships were held in Moscow, Russia from Wednesday April 3 till Sunday April 7, 2002. The event took place in the 25m-pool of the renovated Olympiiski-complex, which also hosted the swimming event at the 1980 Summer Olympics...
(short course) in Moscow, Russia. - 100 m breaststroke – 2007 World Championships2007 World Aquatics ChampionshipsThe 2007 World Aquatics Championships or the XII FINA World Championships were held in Melbourne, Australia from 17 March to 1 April 2007...
(long course) in Melbourne, Australia.
- 100 m breaststroke – 2002 FINA Short Course World Championships
- Bronze Medal
- 100 m breaststroke – 2001 World Championships2001 World Aquatics ChampionshipsrightThe 2001 World Aquatics Championships or the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships were held in Fukuoka, Japan between 16 July and 29 July 2001....
(long course) in Fukuoka, Japan. - 4×100 m Medley – 2003 World Championships2003 World Aquatics ChampionshipsBarcelona, Spain was the host city of the X FINA World Aquatics Championships or the 10th FINA World Championships in Aquatics, which were held from July 12 until July 27, 2003....
(long course) in Barcelona, Spain. - 4×100 m Medley – 2004 Summer Olympics2004 Summer OlympicsThe 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens, Greece. - 4×100 m Medley – 2008 Summer Olympics2008 Summer OlympicsThe 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing, China.
- 100 m breaststroke – 2001 World Championships
Personal bests
In long course swim pools Kitajima's bests are:- 100 m breaststroke: 58.91 (11 August 2008)
- 200 m breaststroke: 2:07.51 (8 June 2008)
See also
- World record progression 100 metres breaststrokeWorld record progression 100 metres breaststrokeThis is a list of the world record progression in the 100 metres breaststroke. The first world record in long course swimming was recognized by the International Swimming Federation in 1961, while the women's world record times were officially acknowledged in 1958...
- World record progression 200 metres breaststrokeWorld record progression 200 metres breaststrokeThe first world record in the men's 200 metres breaststroke in long course swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation in 1908 and the first world record in the women's 200 metres breaststroke was recognised in 1921...
- List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
External links
- http://www.frogtown.jp/ Kitajima Kosuke Official Website