Double Olympic silver medallist Duncan Scott<\/strong> is looking forward to racing Kosuke Hagino<\/strong> when London Roar<\/strong> get their second match of the International Swimming League under way on Friday.<\/p>\n

Hagino won the IM double as Tokyo Frog Kings<\/strong> made their ISL debut last weekend in a thrilling match where they traded the lead with LA Current.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Frog Kings led going into the skins \u2013 a series of knockout races where the remaining two swimmers go head to head \u2013 only for the Current to come through.<\/p>\n

Hagino won the Olympic 400IM in 2016 and also claimed silver over the shorter medley.<\/p>\n

But having reached the pinnacle, the Japanese \u2013 like others before him – found the next stage of his journey a difficult one to negotiate.<\/p>\n

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Kosuke Hagino: Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu \/ ISL<\/p><\/div>\n
The physical and mental burnout resulted in Hagino taking time out of the water and he missed much of the 2019 season including the World Championships in Gwangju.<\/p>\n
While Hagino experienced a lack of motivation his fellow Japanese Daiya Seto<\/strong> saw his star rise, winning the medley double at worlds and sweeping all before him as Tokyo 2020 loomed ever closer.<\/p>\n
However, the postponement of the Olympics in March hit Seto hard and he ends the year suspended by the Japanese Swimming Federation following an extra-marital affair.<\/a><\/p>\n
For Hagino, though, the extra year has given him welcome time to concentrate on his technique and preparation which would not have been so extensive had the Olympics gone ahead in 2020.<\/p>\n
Scott will face the Japanese at the Duna Arena in the two-day match starting on Friday with LA Current and DC Trident<\/strong> also presenting opposition.<\/p>\n
The three-time world relay champion welcomes the continued return of Hagino and not only for his performances in the water.<\/p>\n
Scott told Swimming World:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to see Hagino back racing \u2013 that is pretty special. It\u2019s going to be really good fun.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor who he is as well in the sport. I don\u2019t know anyone that doesn\u2019t like him \u2013 he\u2019s a really nice guy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way he goes about his business, the way he trains, his personality \u2013 it\u2019s great to see him back racing, winning events as well \u2013 2IM, 400IM \u2013 so it is going to be good fun getting to race him, I don\u2019t know the last time I did.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone is really happy to see him back.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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Duncan Scott. Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu \/ ISL<\/p><\/div>\n
London Roar enjoyed an emphatic win in their first match in Budapest<\/a> but Duncan Scott has no doubt they face a tough test, saying:<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be pretty challenging. The Frog Kings looked pretty good last time and so did LA, DC have got Zach Apple <\/strong>– the boy who won the 100 free – and a couple of others as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it will be a really tough match-up to be honest and I hope that London are expecting that as well. It is going to be a lot more challenging than what we had in our first match I think.<\/p>\n
\u201cLA have put up some really strong performances: Ryan Murphy<\/strong> has been swimming really well. The Frog Kings as well.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Roar\u2019s opening match was Scott\u2019s first competition since the Edinburgh International Meet in March.<\/p>\n
Scott \u2013 coached by Steven Tigg<\/strong> at the University of Stirling \u2013 won for the first time in the ISL when he took the 200 free in the opening match.<\/p>\n
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Duncan Scott: Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu \/ ISL<\/p><\/div>\n
It was a welcome return to competition and also served to show improvements that need to be made.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of excitement,\u201d said Scott.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was really happy to get out there and I was buzzing to compete again, race anyone and race internationally at a world level.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter it had happened there were a couple of other emotions: I was quite rusty, there are quite a few things I probably hadn\u2019t thought about before that I now need to think about because of how little I\u2019ve raced.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut that\u2019s no problem \u2013 we\u2019ve got plenty of chances to race in the next couple of weeks and that\u2019s fine. I\u2019m more than certain of what I\u2019ve done wrong and what I can do better.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am just happy to get out and race but then be able to race with London Roar again: the last time was December last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cMissing Jimmy and Deano (James Guy and Tom Dean) that meet was quite tough .<\/a>\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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