Word: kitajima
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...strokes were at least four centimeters shorter than those of his nearest competitor, but when Kosuke Kitajima churned the Athens pool in a frenzied quest for gold in the 100-m breaststroke race last week, Japan's finest swimmer wasn't about to let a few centimeters of European torso or American leg stop him. Tagging the end of the pool in a speedy display somewhat slowed by brisk winds, the 1.78-m Kitajima raised his arms in a banzai cheer and threw back his head as a strange wail swirled through the stadium and skittered across the surface...
...haul of six gold and two bronze was anything less than spectacular. And the fans who streamed into the Aquatic Center - which was sold out every evening, unlike so many other venues - saw a week of thrilling races with an array of breakout stars like Japan's Kosuke Kitajima, who swept the men's breaststroke races, and France's Laure Manaudou, just 17, who picked up freestyle gold and silver, backstroke bronze and a new nickname: L'Or (the Golden) Manaudou. No starburst was more sudden and surprising than that of Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry, 22. First, the cherubic swimmer...
...competition, the weather became a factor with the temperature dropping about 10 degrees and blustery winds sweeping the water?s surface like a giant broom. World record holder Brendan Hansen settled for silver in the 100m breast stroke, after touching the wall 0.17 seconds behind Japan?s Kosuke Kitajima. Three-time Olympian Jenny Thompson failed to medal in the 100 butterfly, and to close the disappointing night, the U.S. men earned a bronze in the 4x100m freestyle relay, not bad until you consider it?s their worse finish in that event ever. (The U.S. had never lost that race until...
...Hansen?s loss did not sit well with teammate and fellow University of Texas backstroker Aaron Peirsol, who accused Kitajima of using an illegal dolphin kick to help propel him off the wall after turns. ?I was pretty angry after Brendan?s race,? he told reporters following his own backstroke heat. ?That?s [Brendan?s] medal. [Kitajima] knew what he was doing; he was cheating. Instead of gliding off the start, he took a huge dolphin kick to give him extra momentum. He knows we can?t see that. He takes gold and he was cheating.? U.S. team captain Eddie...
...Athens Olympics, particularly the Fastskin suit unveiled in March. Designed by Speedo and Japan's Mizuno, the drag-reducing Fastskin makes it appear as if a swimmer has been dipped in a glossy, water-resistant paint. Olympians who plan to wear one include Japanese swimming sensation Kosuke Kitajima, who has set world records in the 100- and 200-m breaststroke. Speedo claims the $250 suit reduces drag by at least 4% compared with the original Fastskin design released in 2000. Not to be outdone, the company's main competitor, Tyr, has developed its own "world's fastest swimsuit." Tyr says...