Sport

Kitajima — small man, big deeds

For a modern day swimming champ, Japanese sensation Kosuke Kitajima is a small-built person. He is only 177 centimetres tall and weighs a modest 71 kgs. But what he lacks in size he makes up with his outstanding performances in the pool, often getting the better of much taller and stronger rivals.

Born in September 1982 in Tokyo, he hit the headlines by being the first swimmer to set a new World record at the Asian Games in the 200m breaststroke in 2002. Later he bagged gold medals in the men’s 100m and 200m breaststroke in the 2004 Athens Olympics.

But that feat led to instant controversy. U.S. swimmers alleged that he moved his legs, making a butterfly stroke-like movement, on his pull-out at every start and turn, a movement which was against the rules during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

But despite protests, he has never been disqualified from any international competition for his style. However, after the 2004 Olympics, FINA has changed the rules of breaststroke style swimming.

Kitajima’s arch-rival is American swimmer Brendan Hansen. They have clashed in several important meets such as the 2005 World Championships, 2004 Summer Olympics and 2003 World Championships.

Kitajima set world records for 100m and 200m breaststroke before they were bettered by Hansen and then by Dimitri Komornikov in the two distances. But recently Kitajima regained the 200m mark and he is now all geared up for the Beijing Olympics.

Kitajima is also well known for another unusual trait — screams of exuberance after his victories.

He has a good relationship with his coach Norimasa Hirai. Kitajima says Hirai is a teacher who inspires trust and respect and always thinks of him (Kitajima) before everything else.

Kitajima is determined to win a medal, preferably a gold, at Beijing not only for himself and his country but also to justify the faith that his coach has in him.

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