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JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

Kitajima makes it a double double at Olympics

Olympics Aug. 14, 2008 - 01:59PM JST ( 27 )

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27 Comments

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ExPrinceskaAug. 14, 2008 - 04:56PM JST

This is a great achievement, congratulations, Kitajima!
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NoripinheadAug. 14, 2008 - 05:16PM JST

Great achievement yes, but doesn't the comment "I was so calm that I think I could have seen each face in this venue" come across as a bit too cocky? I don't know, maybe something got lost in the translation.
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cleoAug. 14, 2008 - 06:50PM JST

“I didn’t expect that I could swim so fast,”

That's what I like to hear in the Olympics.
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Pukey2Aug. 14, 2008 - 09:23PM JST

Great achievement yes, but doesn't the comment "I was so calm that I think I could have seen each face in this venue" come across as a bit too cocky? I don't know, maybe something got lost in the translation.

I have NO idea what he meant by that. However, he's the only one who has lived up to the nation's expectations. I'm not a fan of his (I know Cleo takes a shine to him), but I'll admit to that. Their judo results have been terrible so far, compared to Athens.
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sportAug. 14, 2008 - 09:57PM JST

The Japanese media does not offer full coverage of the games. It is the same every Olympics.
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Pukey2Aug. 14, 2008 - 10:43PM JST

The Japanese media does not offer full coverage of the games. It is the same every Olympics.

The BBC and NBC offer a variety of video clips on their websites which, unfortunately, cannot be accessed outside the country. You can't get anything on the net and NHK will NOT put clips of any athletes except those of Japan. To say that I'm p*ssed is an understatement.
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J_rockAug. 14, 2008 - 11:20PM JST

I watched both the 2000 and 2004 Olympics in Japan, and I remember being struck by how limited the coverage was. NHK would often skip marquee events to show Judo, or a swimming heat in which the Japanese competitor finished in 8th. And then there were the endless replays when a Japanese athlete did win gold. I take it nothing has changed. I wonder if Japanese people ever complain about the coverage?
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J_rockAug. 14, 2008 - 11:22PM JST

Oops. I got a bit carried away complaining there, and forgot to say "Great Job" by Kitajima. I was happy for him in Athens, and it's good to see him do so well again.
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usaexpatAug. 14, 2008 - 11:37PM JST

Kitajima looked great congratulations on winning gold
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smithinjapanAug. 15, 2008 - 12:19AM JST

THis guy rocks... any doubts I had about him before, I gladly dip my shoe in before placing in my mouth, with honour. You are an inspiration to the world, and should be very proud of where you're from. For a change, I actually think the people here are actually justified in giving you suck god-like status... I just hope they remember there were other competitors.
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Shumatsu_SamuraiAug. 15, 2008 - 12:30AM JST

Definitely a great swimmer and Olympian - well done, Sir!
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autumngardenAug. 15, 2008 - 12:31AM JST

I didn't like him so much before because he looked a bit arrogant. However, when he got the first gold medal, watching his crying on TV, I guessed he also had beared the burden as a champion and got through hardship as well as other athletes. Besides the first medal, today he got... I want to congratulate him from the heart now. Congratulations, OMEDETO, Kitajima!
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chibamanAug. 15, 2008 - 08:37AM JST

"I was so calm that I think I could have seen each face in this venue"

Sickening arrogance. Well done, you've just picked up your third gold medal. Most arrogant competitor in the world. And did you see his victory yells in the water after his 100m victory? You make me sick Kitajima. End armchair rhetoric.
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flammenwerferAug. 15, 2008 - 08:47AM JST

He has announced his retirement - what a way to go out.

Cut him some slack, he's the best breaststroker in the world, two gold medals two olympic records, one world record + the other one on another day. Why is he arrogant for telling the truth? he was as cool as a cucumber - you could see it yesterday. Very content with years of hard work paying dividends. Enough of the tall poppy syndrome.
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chibamanAug. 15, 2008 - 09:06AM JST

Cut him some slack, he's the best breaststroker in the world, two gold medals two olympic records, one world record + the other one on another day. Why is he arrogant for telling the truth? he was as cool as a cucumber - you could see it yesterday. Very content with years of hard work paying dividends. Enough of the tall poppy syndrome.

Sorry, just offering some biased counter-rubbish. Why is someone arrogant for their elation after a hard-fought relay? See through some posters I do.
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HimajinAug. 15, 2008 - 09:17AM JST

"I was so calm that I think I could have seen each face in this venue"

Simply put,(and anyone who speaks publicly or performs music for an audience probably understood immediately what he meant) he was relaxed enough that he could observe detail, and not see the crowd/surroundings in a blur. I have no idea why this is branded as 'arrogance', he was stating how calm he felt.
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chibamanAug. 15, 2008 - 09:23AM JST

I have no idea why this is branded as 'arrogance', he was stating how calm he felt.

It all comes down to how I translate it from behind my computer stronghold and armchair. I'm always right too, especially about competitors whose name I can't even put to their face. Love my own rhetoric.
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chibamanAug. 15, 2008 - 09:48AM JST

I watched both the 2000 and 2004 Olympics in Japan, and I remember being struck by how limited the coverage was. NHK would often skip marquee events to show Judo, or a swimming heat in which the Japanese competitor finished in 8th. And then there were the endless replays when a Japanese athlete did win gold. I take it nothing has changed. I wonder if Japanese people ever complain about the coverage?

No, some other posters have made it clear and are undisputably correct that it is only foreigners who are dissatisfied with the extreme myopia and unparalleled self-obsession. But yes nothing has changed. If they're not showing other events cos the ratings would drop off, then that speaks volumes about most of the population who can't stop staring in their collective mirror for a couple of weeks.
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ChiniAug. 15, 2008 - 09:48AM JST

Congratulations on Kitajima's victory! he's the best of the best!
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nigelboyAug. 15, 2008 - 09:56AM JST

No, some other posters have made it clear and are undisputably correct that it is only foreigners who are dissatisfied with the extreme myopia and unparalleled self-obsession. But yes nothing has changed. If they're not showing other events cos the ratings would drop off, then that speaks volumes about most of the population who can't stop staring in their collective mirror for a couple of weeks.

Traditionally, most events finals are done during the evening but several events most notably, swimming, was done in the morning to satisfy the request from NBC (U.S. station). So yeah. Ratings are very important.
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chibamanAug. 15, 2008 - 10:01AM JST

Traditionally, most events finals are done during the evening but several events most notably, swimming, was done in the morning to satisfy the request from NBC (U.S. station). So yeah. Ratings are very important.

Morning nige. Well event finals are popular aren't they. But there's also all the lead-up to that final and a lot of interesting competition. I find it hard to believe that the regular program crap they are showing right at this instant could garner more ratings than once-in-four-years elite international competition. Oops, I said international didn't I? Case closed. Much like an island mindset.
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nigelboyAug. 15, 2008 - 10:07AM JST

Morning nige. Well event finals are popular aren't they. But there's also all the lead-up to that final and a lot of interesting competition. I find it hard to believe that the regular program crap they are showing right at this instant could garner more ratings than once-in-four-years elite international competition. Oops, I said international didn't I? Case closed. Much like an island mindset.

Give it up chiba. Each and every country's coverage of the olympics favor to that of their own country's athelete. This is nothing new. What's popular in certain country is not so in another.
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chibamanAug. 15, 2008 - 10:12AM JST

Give it up chiba. Each and every country's coverage of the olympics favor to that of their own country's athelete. This is nothing new. What's popular in certain country is not so in another.

I will give up nothing, especially now that Uchishiba gave me the confidence to go on after his judo gold. Yes of course other countries will show the events their athletes are in, but not to the exclusitivity you see here. Where are you from by the way? If you're not a direct descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu I bet you're an embarassment to your nation.
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kornholioAug. 15, 2008 - 11:42AM JST

Kitajima is a cheater like other breaststrokers who used a dolphin kick before the recent rules have allowed it (with certain restrictions) from the pull out of the start and turn. Hhhhmmm wonder why they changed the rules? And it was obvious he clearly cheated back in 2004 when these rules weren't in effect. http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/5714746/

a take from real swimmers on his technique

http://www.collegeswimming.tv/viewtopic.php?t=3362
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mikihouseAug. 17, 2008 - 05:51PM JST

kornholio cheater you say? Have you seen it? Any comment from the IOC in Athens? and well only the US team complained and after which Kitajima again won the gold medal in 200 meters which silenced his critics.

It was an accusation that he cheated but the IOC did not think he cheat. Be careful with your biased accusation. Its called libel.
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FrEcKlEfAcEAug. 17, 2008 - 06:38PM JST

Awesome!

How does Kitajima rank against other Japanese athletics alltime?
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dogbertAug. 19, 2008 - 11:19AM JST

Seems like there are alot of jealous kore..er uh, I mean foreigners who are upset anytime Kitajima or Japan wins a medal. It's so funny to see hangook people go ballistic each time Japan wins a medal.:)