Swimmer to Watch: Kosuke Hagino

Feature by Hideki Mochizuki, Swimming World Japanese correspondent

TOKYO, Japan, April 2. During day one of the Japanese Olympic Trials, Kosuke Hagino smashed the Japanese record in the men's 400m IM in 4:10.26. He split the race 57.46, 2:00.61, 3:11.60.

At 175 cm (5'8″) tall, 70kg (154 lb), Hagino shortened his previous personal best by more than four seconds. Born on August 15, 1994, 17 years old, the high school senior started swimming at six months old. He rewrote the record books in the national primary school and junior high records. Hagino's development has been under the radar among top coaches and the Japanese Federation.

Hagino still owns national primary school records as follows:
(national primary school record, long course, when Hagino was 12)
50m back: 28.47
100m back: 1:00.49
200m back: 2:10.48

In short course 25m pool, Hagino swam 400m IM in 4:30.76, again at age of 12. Japan boasts its deep network of private swimming clubs spread out nationwide and that is the source of junior swimming. However, with the lack of long term vision of development of swimmers in the context of 20 years long career, we have seen many hopeful primary school kids struggle after high school or colleges. Certainly, that was not the case for Hagino.

In junior high, he continued to grow steadily and kept his name in national junior high records.
(national junior high record, long course, when Hagino was 15.)
200 Free: 1:49.25
400m Free: 3:55.10
100m back: 55.33
200m back: 1:59.71
200m IM: 1:59.26
400m IM: 4:16.50

Hagino has been a “super kid” in Japan and quite known in global junior swimming scene for long time already but finally his name went out globally last night. Just a normal high schooler Hagino told to the Swimming World yesterday, “I have been training around 14k to 15k meters a day focusing on quality. I have nothing to lose and it will be just exciting if I get a chance to compete against Michael Phelps in 400m IM.”

Last year at World Championships Trials, Hagino caught influenza and could not even participate in Trials. He stayed at home watching the race on TV. When Yuya Horihata (second place finisher this time and also got a ticket to London) got a bronze medal in 400m IM at Shanghai, Hagino remembers, “I was so moved and almost cried. At the same time, I instantly confirmed that even small Japanese can compete at global level.”

Certainly, he has now has a chance to show it in London.

Summary of Kosuke Hagino
175cm, 70kg…..Miyukigahara Swimming School…..Sakushin Gakuen High School.
Personal Best
100m Free　51.55
200m Free　1:49.25
50m Back　26.17
100m Back　54.83
200m Back　1:57.76
200m IM　1:59.20
400m IM　4:10.26

International experiences
2007 Australian Junior Champs
2009 Asian Championships
2009 Asian Age Group Championships
2010 Pan Pacific Championships (Irvine, US)
2011 Junior World Championships

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