Japan's Kitajima considers retiring

Monday 18th August, 04:37 PM JST

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bigtime_charlie at 05:38 PM JST - 18th August

Are there any other countries taking part in these games? Going off the news coverage here, you wouldn't think so? "Nippon tsuyoi".....yawn yawn
Sarge at 05:43 PM JST - 18th August

"Are there any other countries taking part in these games?"

Allegedly.
movieguy at 05:51 PM JST - 18th August

Yeah, Kitajima isn't your typical Japanese guy and he's gotten a lot of flack for that, but he'll do the smart thing and retire on top. Of course EVERYONE loves him now that he's brought 1/4 of Japan's gold medals, but his western cockiness is a turn off even for western people.

And Bigtime Charlie... The same ole, same ole. It's so frustrating to not be able to see what we want. The IOC needs to be convinced to allow us to see whatever event we want on the Internet.

I want to see the top athletes perform from around the world in the events I'm interested in and I'm willing to pay for that. Coverage in Japan and the U.S. is atrocious.

And with the way Japan covers the Olympics doesn't it seem like they have more than 8 gold medals???

The pathetic excuses for politicians must absolutely love when the Olympics or other international events are happening. They get to screw people so quietly during this time...
Pivot at 05:58 PM JST - 18th August

The tv just had an interview with him where he said he absolutely did not say he was retiring, and was unhappy that there were nonsense articles like this appearing around.
rajakumar at 05:59 PM JST - 18th August

Kitajima should now start coaching in weak swimming asian nations.

I'm sure they will pay Kitajima for his services and give him more international travel experience exposure.
movieguy at 06:03 PM JST - 18th August

Pivot... I just watched him on the news too. He seems irritated by the reports and I believe him when he says he doesn't know if he'll retire, but I think he'll make the smart move and go out on top. Also... I'm just asking, but at 29 can swimmers of his level keep the early 20s swimmers back??? I don't think so. Phelps will only be 27 when he comes back and there's no way he's gonna be able to do 8 again. There was an interview with him saying he may add another event (100 M???). 9 gold medals at 27 for a swimmer???
presto345 at 06:04 PM JST - 18th August

but his western cockiness is a turn off even for western people.

Western cockiness from western people turns off western people as well. Seen some of that . . . Kitajima wrote history in swimming for his country. Good job. And he also turned off the primal screams at his victories.
toolongheremaybe at 07:08 PM JST - 18th August

I'd retire. Phelps, who loves challenges is probably now thinking about going in every event! Good on Kouseke anyway. Retire now, and he will be a hero forever.
some14some at 07:27 PM JST - 18th August

Good decision (if true).
shugotokumaru at 08:56 PM JST - 18th August

I refuse to cede the title of best breaststroker ever, though I have yet to be recognized in several nations.

Sorry, low hanging fruit.
usaexpat at 11:38 PM JST - 18th August

movieguy, you never know 29 is still young it's all in the training. Look at Dara Torres, she's pretty much blown away the age factor. She may not have taken all the golds like Phelps and Kitajima but at 41 she still won 3 silvers. If Kitajima retires while he's on top that's good too but if he's still able to compete and win he should come back in 4 years.
ProudKoreanGuy at 11:47 PM JST - 18th August

It's his life and his choice to make, but why doesn't he test the water for 2012 Olympics gold medal, first, by competing internationally for next two years? If he doesn't do well enough as he wish, then he can quit after that and not worry about 2012. Despite all the political and cultural differences, I do want Asia to become better in the sports dominated by the West. Will only a Westerner/Caucasian be capable of what Michael Phelps has accomplished?
spiderman at 11:52 PM JST - 18th August

retire and be a celebrity..
mindovermatter at 12:31 AM JST - 19th August

This guy's just a kid....He's a whopping 25 years old and add 4 more years until 2012 and he'll still be only 30...

Notwithstanding sports, Japanese don't really grow up until there pushing 50 years old...

About the time they move out of the house...

Swimming isn't exactly Ice Hockey or Boxing, where the body wears at 50:1, swimming is, matter of fact, the easiest exercise on the body, that's why 60 & 70 year olds can have at it and not worry about injury...
OssanULTRA at 01:38 AM JST - 19th August

"Notwithstanding sports, Japanese don't really grow up until there pushing 50 years old... About the time they move out of the house..."

If you think that's normlal, it indicates with what kind of people you associate.