Japan's double Olympic breaststroke champion and former world
record holder Kosuke Kitajima has been working hard in a bid to
retain his titles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Kyodo News said
Wednesday.
Kitajima returned to Tokyo on Wednesday after a month's training
in Arizona, the United States, at an elevation of over 2,000
meters.
"Last year I didn't have any good records, so I was somewhat
concerned, but I really dug in deep with a good training this time
out," he was quoted as saying.
Kitajima's short-term goal is the world championships in
Melbourne from March 17 through April 1. His main goal, the report
said, is to excel his American rival, the world record holder
Brendan Hansen.
"I've started to get excited racing with him (Hansen) again. I'm
confident about the challenge," Kitajima said. At the Athens
Olympics in 2004, Kitajima won the 100 and 200 meter golds, with
Hansen settling for silver in the 100 and bronze in the 200.
However, Hansen has performed better than Kitajima since
then.
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(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2007)