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Background[]

  • Swimmer from Japan (also known as JPN) Flag of Japan with world record in 200 breast, established in 2008.

Insights[]

  • About 20 journalists from Japan attended the 2008 United States (also known as USA) Flag of the United States Olympic Swim Trials. The Japanese were there in large part to track the progress of breaststroker Brendan Hansen, the rival of Japanese swimming star Kosuke Kitajima. Hansen, who because of the rivalry is far more famous in Japan (also known as JPN) Flag of Japan than he is in the U.S., won the 100 breaststroke in Omaha, but shockingly, he faltered in his signature event, the 200 breast, finishing fourth as two of his Texas training partners, Scott Spann and Eric Shanteau, secured spots on the team. "I train with these guys every day," said Hansen, who lost an opportunity to win the individual gold medal that eluded him in Athens and reclaim his world record, which Kitajima broke last month. "Ultimately I might have trained them a little too well."
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