Hagino fires Rio warning at Phelps

AFP, TOKYO: Japan swimming sensation Kosuke Hagino on Monday fired a warning shot at his American idols Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte by backing himself for Olympic glory in Rio this summer.
The 21-year-old will compete in the 200 and 400m individual medley, the 200 freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay after setting alight last week’s national championships which served as Japan’s Olympic trials.
“I will obviously be aiming to win gold,” Hagino told a news conference after being named in Japan’s 34-strong swim team for Rio including 21 set to make their Olympic debut.
“My two main rivals will be from America but regardless of the respect I have for them, the plan is to beat them. I won’t get another chance to do it at the Olympics.”
Phelps, the most decorated Olympic athlete of all-time in any sport with 22 medals -- 18 of them gold, is likely to be competing in his fifth and last Games and has won everything Hagino has on his wish-list.
Lochte, another serial Olympic gold medallist who won the 400m medley at the 2012 London Olympics as Hagino took bronze, is also expected to make his swan song in Rio.
“I have to keep setting quicker and quicker times to keep the pressure on,” added Hagino, set to be Japan’s new team leader in the absence of talisman Kosuke Kitajima.
Kitajima, who captured the 100 and 200m breaststroke double at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, retired from competitive swimming after failing to qualify for his fifth Olympics.

Hagino fires Rio warning at Phelps

AFP, TOKYO: Japan swimming sensation Kosuke Hagino on Monday fired a warning shot at his American idols Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte by backing himself for Olympic glory in Rio this summer. The 21-year-old will compete in the 200 and 400m individual medley, the 200 freestyle and the 4x200m freestyle relay after setting alight last weeks national championships which served as Japans Olympic trials. I will obviously be aiming to win gold, Hagino told a news conference after being named in Japans 34-strong swim team for Rio including 21 set to make their Olympic debut. My two main rivals will be from America but regardless of the respect I have for them, the plan is to beat them. I wont get another chance to do it at the Olympics. Phelps, the most decorated Olympic athlete of all-time in any sport with 22 medals -- 18 of them gold, is likely to be competing in his fifth and last Games and has won everything Hagino has on his wish-list. Lochte, another serial Olympic gold medallist who won the 400m medley at the 2012 London Olympics as Hagino took bronze, is also expected to make his swan song in Rio. I have to keep setting quicker and quicker times to keep the pressure on, added Hagino, set to be Japans new team leader in the absence of talisman Kosuke Kitajima. Kitajima, who captured the 100 and 200m breaststroke double at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, retired from competitive swimming after failing to qualify for his fifth Olympics.