AFP, Tokyo :
Don’t be fooled by Kosuke Hagino’s quiet demeanour and toothy grin-the Japan swimming sensation plans to usher boyhood hero Michael Phelps into retirement at the Rio Olympics.
The 21-year-old, who pipped Phelps to take bronze in the 400 metres individual medley behind gold medallist Ryan Lochte in London four years ago, is targeting double gold in Brazil.
“I was lucky to (win a) medal in London,” Hagino told AFP. “But this time there will be no luck involved.”
Ten years younger than Phelps and Lochte, Hagino has his sights set on a 200m and 400m individual medley double. Phelps completed an astonishing hat-trick in the 200m medley in 2012, defending the title he won in Athens and Beijing.
But the Japanese gold medal hope has posted this year’s quickest time in the event and the American superstars will be absent from the 400m. “It’s a totally different feeling to four years ago,” said the 2014 swimmer of the year. “The aim will be to win gold in the 200m and 400m medley, no question.”
Hagino, poised to emerge from the shadow of countryman Kosuke Kitajima after the former Olympic champion failed to qualify for Rio, will also be a decent bet to win a medal in the 200m freestyle and 4x200m freestyle relay. His 200m freestyle victory over Chinese giant Sun Yang was one of the highlights of the 2014 Asian Games, where he won four gold medals, only for his momentum to be halted after he fell off a bicycle and broke his elbow.
