The addition of 50m stroke sprints at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles continues to bring would-be retirees out of the woodwork, with Japanese world champion Junya Koga the latest to throw his hat in the ring.
2009 World Championships gold medalist Koga has come out of retirement, aiming for a bid in the men’s 50m backstroke for the next edition of the Summer Olympic Games.
“I feel like I can win calmly, like a quiet flame,” the current 38-year-old told Hochi News.
Koga joins the likes of Brazilian maestro Nicholas Santos, the current 45-year-old who revealed he is aiming for the men’s 50m butterfly event for LA 2028. Santos will be 48 years of age in LA, whereas Koga will be 40.
Koga retired after the 2024 Olympic Games and had been dabbling in coaching before making his decision to come back to training. He is the reigning Japanese national record holder in the men’s 50m back, owning a lifetime best of 24.24, a time which keeps him ranked 14th in the world among all-time performers.
Koga’s career is not without controversy, however, as the sprinter was held to a two-year suspension beginning in May 2018 for having tested positive for a banned substance.
The swimmer maintains his innocence, telling Hochi News, “I had no recollection of doing anything wrong, and I really couldn’t believe it. I had a tremendous aversion to athletes, officials, and people who engage in doping, so I never thought I would be involved. Everyone around me seemed completely innocent.”
Fueled with a drive to make amends in Los Angeles, Koga has been focusing on land-based training, including the incorporation of CrossFit.
In terms of motivation, the veteran states, “I have won a gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships, but the Olympics are in a league of their own among amateur sports. The time, passion, and intensity required are on a completely different level. I have never competed in the backstroke, so it would be amazing if I could compete in an event that I am proud of.”
From a history perspective, the oldest Japanese Olympic swimmers include Takeshi Matsuda who was 32 at the 2016 Games in Rio and Satomi Suzuki who was 33 years old at the 2024 Games.
We ain’t forgetting that 20.3 50y back
BLAST FROM THE PAST. THE OG 50 BACKSTROKER