By John Lohn<\/p>\n
CRANBURY, New Jersey, March 11. The countdown to the start of the Beijing Olympics is rapidly shortening. As SwimmingWorldMagazine.com<\/b> continues its 32-week preview series leading into the next Olympiad, we turn our attention to the men's 200-meter breaststroke, an event that should feature another showdown between American Brendan Hansen and Japan's Kosuke Kitajima.<\/p>\n
Historical Perspective<\/b><\/p>\n
Defending Champion:<\/b> Kosuke Kitajima (Japan) \u2013 2:09.44.
\nWorld-Record Holder:<\/b> Brendan Hansen (United States) \u2013 2:08.50.
\nMost Titles:<\/b> United States (Five) \u2013 Robert Skelton (1924); Joseph Verdeur (1948); William Mulliken (1960); John Hencken (1972); Mike Barrowman (1992). Japan (Five) \u2013 Yoshiyuki Tsuruta (1928\/1932); Tetsuo Hamuri (1936); Masura Furukawa (1956); Kosuke Kitajima (2004).
\nNotable:<\/b> The last two Olympic champions in the 200 breaststroke have also won the 100 breast during the same Games. Kosuke Kitajima accomplished the feat in Athens in 2004 while Italy's Domenico Fioravanti turned the double at the 2000 Games in Sydney.<\/p>\n
Here's a look at the leading contenders in the event.<\/p>\n
Brendan Hansen:<\/b>
\nThe world-record holder grabbed the bronze medal in this event in 2004 and is a two-time world champion. Hansen's global standard of 2:08.50 was produced at the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships and he's the only man in history to crack the 2:09 barrier. If Hansen is on target, he'll be difficult to beat, what with his top time nearly a second faster than Kitajima, history's second-fastest performer. Last year, he was second in the world at 2:09.91. Hansen, too, is hungry to capture an individual Olympic gold, something he's targeted since he was a youth.<\/p>\n
Kosuke Kitajima:<\/b>
\nThe reigning Olympic champ posted a comfortable victory four years ago, prevailing by more than a second over Hungary's Daniel Gyurta. Kitajima fell slightly off form following Athens, but the Japanese star is again a major factor. Kitajima won the world title in the 200 breast last year in Melbourne, but it's worth noting that Hansen was absent from the event due to sickness. Kitajima had the fastest time of 2007, an effort of 2:09.80. Count on him chasing the gold medal.<\/p>\n
Eric Shanteau:<\/b>
\nAn Auburn University product now training with Longhorn Aquatics, Shanteau has developed more in recent years than any 200 breaststroker on the planet. He was fifth at last year's World Championships and went 2:10.59 at the All-American Long Course Championships over the weekend, where he placed ahead of Hansen, his training partner. Shanteau is a definite medal contender for Beijing.<\/p>\n
Daniel Gyurta:<\/b>
\nStill a teenager, Gyurta was a 15-year-old when he won the silver medal in the 200 breast in Athens. The Hungarian is the latest elite breaststroker from his country and is known for closing in on the competition down the stretch. Gyurta was missing from the international scene after Athens and was sixth at the 2007 World Champs, but he managed a best time of 2:10.71 last year, good for fifth in the world. Gyurta should be viewed as a medal contender once again.<\/p>\n
Kris Gilchrist:<\/b>
\nThe British swimmer had a breakthrough performance last August, when he clocked a time of 2:10.32 at the Japan International Swim Meet. For Gilchrist to be mentioned in the medal-contender category, he's going to have to deliver in a high-pressure situation, something currently missing from the resume.<\/p>\n
Brenton Rickard:<\/b>
\nThe Australian was primarily known for his exploits in the 100 breast until last year, when he won the silver medal in the 200 distance at the World Champs. Rickard checked in with a time of 2:10.99, which ended up as the sixth-fastest mark of the year. He'll likely have to get into the low-2:10 range to push for a podium spot.<\/p>\n
Scott Usher:<\/b>
\nA 2004 Olympian, thanks to a breakout showing at the United States Trials in Long Beach, Usher could once again qualify for the Games. However, he's going to have to navigate a difficult road with Hansen and Shanteau around. Shanteau has gone 2:11.80 this year and must slice major time to reach China.<\/p>\n
Mike Brown:<\/b>
\nThe top Canadian breaststroker, Brown was the silver medalist at the 2005 World Championships and followed with a seventh-place effort at the 2007 World Champs. Last year, Brown ranked ninth in the world at 2:11.61 and must get down into 2:10 territory for a good showing in Beijing.<\/p>\n
Italian Tandem:<\/b>
\nAt the 2007 World Championships, Loris Facci was the bronze medalist with a time of 2:11.03. That effort ranked him seventh in the world. The other Italian to note is Paolo Bossini, who was the eighth-fastest man in 2007 with a best mark of 2:11.38. That time enabled Bossini to finish fourth at the World Championships.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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