Pan Pacific Championships: Kosuke Kitajima Returns – Coverage Sponsored by TYR

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Column by John Lohn

IRVINE, California, August 19. NO man before him had pulled the double-double, capturing both the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke at consecutive Olympiads. Yet, that was the feat accomplished by Kosuke Kitajima at the Beijing Olympics two years ago. While his first sweep was shrouded in controversy, there was no debate about the second.

Now, two years shy of the London Games, there is reason to start the chatter of Kitajima popping a triple-double. It's a legitimate discussion, although somewhat surprising considering the fact that the Japanese star was a no-show in 2009. From the way he's performing, however, no one would have thought Kitajima had taken a break.

Making his debut at the Pan Pacific Championships, Kitajima registered a pair of impressive performances Thursday. After clocking 59.04 during the preliminaries, Kitajima cruised to victory in the final with a time of 59.35. The morning swim is the fastest time ever produced in a textile suit, slightly edging the 59.13 of American Brendan Hansen from 2006.

"I took the year off and that was big," Kitajima said through an interpreter. "Since I restarted, I've continued to put in a good effort. I feel really calm and motivated. I liked to see where I was at.""

Kitajima's location is on top of the breaststroke events. After Norway's Alexander Dale Oen won the European title last week in 59.20, a fabulous mark, Kitajima faced a major challenge to notch the No. 1 time in the world. He wasted little time collecting that honor as he dropped the hammer in the morning. Taking all three breaststroke events here is a distinct possibility.

Coached by Norimasa Hirai for years, Kitajima has recently split his time between Japan and training with Dave Salo and the Trojan Swim Club. Considering the breaststroke pedigree of Salo and his troops, including Rebecca Soni and Jessica Hardy, Kitajima has clearly benefited from his time in the United States. Over the next two years, as London looms, the key will be maintaining his edge.

Kitajima is one of a number of swimmers who can become the first man in history to win an event at three consecutive disciplines. Kitajima has a chance in two events while Michael Phelps has the opportunity in four disciplines. Aaron Peirsol is the other man with a shot at history, his chance coming in the 100 backstroke.

"I think Michael will have more of a chance, but I'm in a place where I can do that." Kitajima said. "The competition will make me try for a higher level and I would like to try for that (three-peat). The most important thing is to do my all in the Olympics."

While there is no controversy surrounding Kitajima's back-to-back Olympic triumphs in the longer breaststroke, the same cannot be said about the 100 breast. At the 2004 Games in Athens, before the dolphin kick was legalized in the breaststroke, Kitajima was shown to use the maneuver off the start and turn. It likely provided the margin of victory over rival Brendan Hansen. The tactic also prompted Peirsol to call out Kitajima, a tremendous show of support for a teammate and friend.

These days, though, the events of 2004 have been largely overshadowed by what Kitajima has done in the years that followed. He was dominant in Beijing, storming to the first sub-59 clocking before backing that crown up with his victory in the 200 breast. For his career, Kitajima's four Olympic gold medals have been complemented by a pair of bronze medals in the 400 medley relay and 10 medals at the World Championships – three gold, three silver and four bronze.

If there is anything that remains for Kitajima, it is reclaiming the world records he lost to Australians Brenton Rickard (100) and Christian Sprenger (200) during the tech-suit era. Kitajima also wouldn't mind seeing a return by Hansen, who has been out of competition since the 2008 Olympics.

"I would be happy if he comes back, but after two years it will be harder," said Kitajima, referencing his respect for the talents of Hansen. "I believed I could go 58 and Salo told me (after the preliminaries) to go after the world record. But I don't have the power right now."

The way Kitajima looked, that's up for debate.

Coverage Sponsored by TYR

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