Japanese prime time swimmer, Kosuke Hagino, is slated to dive back into the competition pool next month, according to media outlet NHK News.
Hagino was set to make some major waves at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, which just concluded yesterday; however, the mega-star suffered a mishap on July 2nd on the way to practice at his team’s training camp in Vichy France, which rendered Hagino with a broken elbow and out of the competition. At the time, the injury was estimated to take two months to heal, of which the 20-year old said in his press conference immediately following the accident, “I can only do my best to regain my health and I am resolved to win gold medals at next year’s Rio Olympic Games.”
As such, Hagino’s first move back to competition will be taking part in the Japanese Intercollegiate Championships set to take place in September. Prior to the world championships, Hagino, who is a student at Tokyo University, held the world’s number one time in both the 400m IM and 200m IM events headed into Kazan and was considered a big-time threat to take home both titles.
In the upcoming meet, however, Hagino is registered in the 100m and 200m backstroke events, possibly as a small stepping stone to test out his elbow’s condition along the road to rehabilitation. Hagino certainly made his mark internationally in these events in 2014, as he was bronze medalist in both backstroke races at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. Hagino clocked swift times of 53.71 in the 100m back and 1:56.36 in the 200m back finals to nab the third place prize in each.
This is a good sign. Let’s hope that his recovery is well under way and ahead of schedule. His potential brilliance was sorely missed at the World Championships.
I was really looking forward to the “little man” Hagino, the best all-round swimmer in swimming today, to dominate in Kazan. Japan could have really used him as they had a terrible meet, at least on the men’s side. If you look at what he accomplish in 2014, no other swimmer can compare when it comes to versatility. Oh well, I hope in Rio he swims lights out.
He did not fall off that drone . That would be outrageous but I can see him on a hover board like Marty MCFly .
With a motivated lochte and phelps, his 200 IM chances are dropping. 400im should be his easily. 200 free is up for the taking as well. Maybe add a backstroke event in there but that’s it.
I agree with your event schedule for him. It seems like he has dropped the backstrokes from his schedule this past year.
The Japanese men weren’t good until the last day when Seto defended his title in the 4IM. Not sure if Hagino’s injury took the wind out of their sails. Irie needs to find a way to drop at the end of the season. He does the same times all year long.
I just had the thought that Hagino is getting jobbed by the 2016 Olympic swim schedule. His six best events all double up on one another: 4 free and 4 IM are both on day 1, 200 free and 100 back are on days 2 and 3, and 200 back and 200 IM are I think on days 5 and 6. Realistically I’d think he would just shoot for the IMs and the 200 free, which seem to be his best shots at medals (the 4 free would also be a good shot, but it’d be suicidal to try to double that with the 400 IM, in which he’s lined up to take gold if he can repeat his 4:07… Read more »