Kitajima Marks Out His Home Territory
Feb 27, 2011 - Craig Lord
Kosuke Kitajima completed a sweep of breaststroke victories in national-record time at the Japanese short-course championships in Tokyo today. First up, the quadruple Olympic champion of 2004 and 2008 clocked 2:02.95 in the 200m at Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center, then followed up with a 26.68sec win in the dash.
Over 200m, Naoya Tomita lost his record (2:03.12 for the world s/c title in December) took silver in 2:04.27, with Yuta Suenaga third in 2:04.60. On Saturday, Kitajima set a national mark of 57.34 in the 100m.
Kitajima's latest efforts prompted Tomita to say he believes he has "no chance" against the Olympic champion long-course, while Suenaga emerged from the 200m to say "I quit".
"I'm good at swimming in a 25-meter pool, but look how I trailed like that. That makes me think I have no chance in a 50-meter pool against him," Tomita said. A tearful Suenega, 25, told Kyodo: "I don't have a desire to try hard to make the London Olympics. I'm glad I raced with Kosuke-san in my last race. I had a great swimming career."
Kitajima had not raced at short-course nationals since 2008. Japanese Trials for world long-course titles in Shanghai this year unfold April 5 to 10.
Of Suenega, Kitajima told Kyodo: "Is he really retiring? If so, I respect his decision. I was thankful that he was trying to catch up with me for years. It was good to go to the Beijing Olympics together. I hoped I could try to make another Olympics with him."
Elsewhere today at s/c nationals in Tokyo, Junya Koga, world 100m back champion, clocked 50.66 to win his specialist event ahead of Masafumi Yamaguchi (52.04) and Kazuki Watanabe (52.08).
Olympic and world 200 butterfly bronze medalist Takeshi Matsuda won the men's 400 freestyle in 3:40.34, while Shiho Sakai claimed the 100m backstroke crown in 56.43.
Results at a glance: