Kosuke Kitajima

Kosuke Kitajima
Personal information
Nationality Japan
Born (1982-09-22) September 22, 1982
Tokyo, Japan
Height177 cm (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Weight72 kg (159 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBreaststroke
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  Japan
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 4 1 2
World Championships (LC) 3 4 5
World Championships (SC) 0 1 0
Pan Pacific Championships 3 3 1
Asian Games 7 1 0
Total 17 10 8
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2004 Athens100 m breaststroke
Gold medal – first place2004 Athens200 m breaststroke
Gold medal – first place2008 Beijing100 m breaststroke
Gold medal – first place2008 Beijing200 m breaststroke
Silver medal – second place2012 London4×100 m medley
Bronze medal – third place2004 Athens4×100 m medley
Bronze medal – third place2008 Beijing4×100 m medley
World Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place2003 Barcelona100 m breaststroke
Gold medal – first place2003 Barcelona200 m breaststroke
Gold medal – first place2007 Melbourne200 m breaststroke
Silver medal – second place2005 Montreal100 m breaststroke
Silver medal – second place2007 Melbourne100 m breaststroke
Silver medal – second place2007 Melbourne4×100 m medley
Silver medal – second place2011 Shanghai200 m breaststroke
Bronze medal – third place2001 Fukuoka200 m breaststroke
Bronze medal – third place2003 Barcelona4×100 m medley
Bronze medal – third place2005 Montreal50 m breaststroke
Bronze medal – third place2005 Montreal4×100 m medley
Bronze medal – third place2013 Barcelona4×100 m medley
World Championships (SC)
Silver medal – second place2002 Moscow100 m breaststroke
Pan Pacific Championships
Gold medal – first place2002 Yokohama100 m breaststroke
Gold medal – first place2010 Irvine100 m breaststroke
Gold medal – first place2010 Irvine200 m breaststroke
Silver medal – second place2006 Victoria200 m breaststroke
Silver medal – second place2006 Victoria4×100 m medley
Silver medal – second place2010 Irvine4×100 m medley
Bronze medal – third place2006 Victoria100 m breaststroke
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place2002 Busan100 m breaststroke
Gold medal – first place2002 Busan200 m breaststroke
Gold medal – first place2002 Busan4×100 m medley
Gold medal – first place2006 Doha100 m breaststroke
Gold medal – first place2006 Doha200 m breaststroke
Gold medal – first place2006 Doha4×100 m medley
Gold medal – first place2010 Guangzhou4×100 m medley
Silver medal – second place2006 Doha50 m breaststroke

Kosuke Kitajima (北島 康介, Kitajima Kōsuke; born September 22, 1982) is a Japanese retired breaststroke swimmer. He won gold medals at the men's 100 m and 200 m breaststroke events at the 2004 Summer Olympics, and the 2008 Summer Olympics – becoming the first and only swimmer to sweep the breaststroke events at consecutive Olympic games.[2]

Major achievements

Kitajima, who was born in Tokyo, was the world record holder in the 100 m breaststroke that he set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – this mark was broken by Brenton Rickard. He was also bronze medal winner in the same Olympics in the 4×100 m medley relay. He edged out his main rival Brendan Hansen who finished fourth while Kitajima won the gold medal and set the new world record.

He received four gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals in total at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics.[3]

His most significant rival in the breaststroke was the American swimmer Brendan Hansen. They dueled at events such as the 2005 World Championships, 2004 Summer Olympics and 2003 World Championships. Kitajima set both world records for 100 m and 200 m breaststroke in the latter occasion. Later his best in 200 m was overcome by Dimitri Komornikov and then by Hansen, who also broke Kitajima's record in the 100 m. Kitajima regained the world record (58.91) in the 100 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Kitajima regained the 200 m breaststroke world record in June 2008 at the Japan Open. His time of 2:07.51 shaved nearly a second off the previous record of 2:08.50 set by Hansen in 2006.[4]

During the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Kitajima generated buzz for his primal screams of exuberance after edging out Hansen in the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke for the gold. At a pool side interview (3'24") following his victory in the 100 m, Kosuke Kitajima also popularised the phrase 'cho-kimochi-ii,' meaning "I feel really good." The word went on to win the 2004 U-Can Neologisms and Vogue Words contest.[5]

During his gold medal-winning 100 m breaststroke race at the 2004 Olympics, he used an illegal dolphin kick on a pull-out, although he was not disqualified, and the rules were changed less than one year later to allow a single dolphin kick after the start and after each turn.[6][7][8]

Kitajima retired in April 2016 after missing qualification for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He was attempting to qualify for his fifth Olympics.[9]

Professional roles & legacy

After retiring from competition, Kitajima moved into leadership roles within swimming. In 2020, he became General Manager of the Tokyo Frog Kings, Japan’s first Asian franchise in the International Swimming League (ISL).[10]

Under Kitajima’s management, the Frog Kings debuted in Budapest, finishing second in their opening match with 506.5 points, behind the LA Current (535.5).[11] The team featured a largely domestic roster, with 22 of 31 athletes representing Japan, and several swimmers making their ISL debut.[12]

Notable early performances included Suzuka Hasegawa’s ISL record in the women’s 200 m butterfly (2:03.12).[13] Kitajima described the ISL as an opportunity for Japanese swimmers to gain experience in an international professional team format.[14]

In January 2025, the Kosuke Kitajima Cup was held at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, serving as a qualifying meet for the World Championships in Japan.[15]

Personal bests

In long course swimming pools Kitajima's bests are:

  • 50 m breaststroke: 27.30 (13 April 2010)
  • 100 m breaststroke: 58.90 (3 April 2012)
  • 200 m breaststroke: 2:07.51 (8 June 2008)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Japanese Medalists in London 2012 Olympics". joc.or.jp. Japanese Olympic Committee. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Clarey, Christopher (August 13, 2008). "Kitajima Completes Breaststroke Double, Again". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ Odeven, Ed, "Kitajima eyes three-peat", Japan Times, 3 June 2012, p. 16
  4. ↑ "Kitajima supplants American Hansen's world breaststroke mark". 8 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  5. ↑ "2004 Annual Grand Prix". Archived from the original on 2007-03-15. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  6. ↑ "The New Rule That Could Sink Michael Phelps". The Atlantic. 27 July 2012.
  7. ↑ Peters, Justin (7 August 2012). "The Cheatingest Move in Swimming: How a South African Used Illegal Dolphin Kicks to Win Gold". Slate.
  8. ↑ "More Breaststroke Dolphin Kick Controversy". 26 October 2007.
  9. ↑ Lord, Craig (April 8, 2016). "Bye, Says King Frog Kosuke Kitajima, Four Games, Four Golds, Pantheon-Bound". Swimvortex. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  10. ↑ De George, Matthew (29 October 2020). "Entering Second ISL Match, Kosuke Kitajima Impressed by Tokyo Frog Kings". Swimming World. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "ISL Match Three Notes: Electric Current Edge Frog Kings Thanks to Gastaldello and Mr Money". Swimming World. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  12. ↑ "Entering Second ISL Match, Kosuke Kitajima Impressed by Tokyo Frog Kings". Swimming World. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  13. ↑ "ISL Match Three Notes: Electric Current Edge Frog Kings Thanks to Gastaldello and Mr Money". Swimming World. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  14. ↑ "Entering Second ISL Match, Kosuke Kitajima Impressed by Tokyo Frog Kings". Swimming World. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  15. ↑ "2025 Kosuke Kitajima Cup Represents World Championships Qualifying Opportunity". SwimSwam. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
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