Olympics: Kitajima captures breaststroke gold with world record

Monday, 11 August 2008

BEIJING - Japan's Kosuke Kitajima broke the men's 100m breaststroke world record Monday, 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 defence 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 favourite 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.