Kosuke Kitajima Wins Gold & Breaks The World Record Options

[Venom]

http://livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/08/11...e_Rickard_fifth

Japan's Kosuke Kitajima broke the men's 100m breaststroke world record today, swimming a "perfect" race to win Olympic gold in 58.91sec.

Kitajima, defending the title he won in Athens four years ago, broke the previous record of 59.13 set by American Brendan Hansen at Irvine, California, on August 1, 2006.

Norway's Alexander Dale Oen took the silver in 59.20, four-hundredths slower than his leading semi-final time, and France's Hugues Duboscq claimed the bronze in 59.37.

Hansen was shut out of the medals, finishing fourth in his only individual event in Beijing thanks to his failure to qualify for the 200m breast at the US trials.

Kitajima, who let out a piercing yell of triumph, said he hadn't had time to think about his great American rival's failure.

"I was just focusing on my own race - and that was perfect," said Kitajima, who launches his defense of the 200m title on Tuesday.

"It was a hell of a swim and he is a true champion," Hansen said. "You've got to take your hat off to someone who swims like that in a pressure-packed race."

Hansen said the Water Cube pool, where four world records had fallen before the end of the second finals session, was giving swimmers a chance to shine.

"You definitely had to bring your A-game here today to win a medal, and those three guys who beat me did," Hansen said.

"It's a testament to just how well Beijing has done in preparing the Olympic Games to allow athletes to swim their best.

"The facilities are simply amazing and we are seeing world records being broken like they are the easiest thing in the world to break when they are not.

With Hansen out of the picture, Kitajima is the overwhelming favorite in the longer distance, having knocked .99sec off the world record in a meeting in Japan in June.

Meanwhile, Hansen vowed to bounce back.

"This is not the last you are going to see of me, I am going to bring it back and I won't be done until I at least have a legitimate shot at the world records again," he said.

[etano]

Congratulation
At the same time, he did China a favor by preventing American world record holder Brandon Hansen from winning the gold

[agent47]

yeah, i saw his race, and also the other korean guy, congrats to both of them.

[Gsw]

Congratulation
At the same time, he did China a favor by preventing American world record holder Brandon Hansen from winning the gold

Hansen didn't even get a medal lol. Go Go Japan!

[Mid-Night_Sun]

yeah that was very impressive. east asians are killin it right now in medal standings.

[Chinese DesertFo...]

I was extremely happy to see that Kitajima had won.

[caoyang]

I was really impressed, Asians have stepped our game up, winning competitions that weren't supposely our games to win a few decades ago.

[manko]

I was really impressed, Asians have stepped our game up, winning competitions that weren't supposely our games to win a few decades ago.

Christ, a few decades ago is a pretty long time..

[education]

I saw this and I have to say I loved his fist pump and yell. Congratulations to him a well deserved victory.

[stronghelm]

wow.

[MizzouGypsy]

Hansen didn't even get a medal lol. Go Go Japan!

Hansen's inability to medal has less to do with Kitajima in this particular race. He has been in a slump since before the US trials and struggled in the prelims as well. It seems his confidence is shaken, although it was obvious Kitajima had gotten under the skin of his rival after his strong performance in the prelims.

Congratulations to Kitajima...damn impressive.

[Mangafan2]

I think China, Japan and South-Korea will end up in the top 10 again at the end of the Olympics