Olympic Champion Kosuke Hagino Enters Pro Swimming Scene

Japanese powerhouse Kosuke Hagino will be graduating from Tokyo University in April, just in time to enter his first major competition after having elbow surgery. The 400m IM Olympic champion underwent endoscopic surgery last September to remove the extra bone on his right elbow, which was broken in June of 2015 while Hagino was at a staging camp for the FINA World Championships.

In conjunction with his graduation and return to competition, Hagino will also transition into a full-time, professional swimmer, having earned his first sponsorship. As part of its ‘Chase Your Dream’ campaign and support of the overall Olympic Movement, Bridgestone Corporation has entered a 5-year partnership with the multiple Japanese record holder.

‘Bridgestone is excited to partner with Kosuke Hagino to share his journey and support him in the continued pursuit of his goals,’ the Tokyo-based company said. With the sponsorship in place through the end of March 2022, Hagino will be supported through two monstrous events taking place on his home soil – the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, as well as the 2021 FINA World Championships in Fukuoka.

Hagino already proved himself as the next great weapon in Japanese swimming, having scored 400m IM gold, 200m IM silver and another silver as part of the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay in Rio. He was a finalist in the individual 200m freestyle and has very effectively dabbled in the 200m backstroke event in the past, so look for him to possibly incorporate the latter into his ongoing race portfolio for the next quadrennial.

In This Story

10
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

10 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Genki
7 years ago

It should be Toyo University,not Tokyo University

Admin
Reply to  Genki
7 years ago

Thanks Genki, updated above. “Lost in translation” 🙂

Genki
Reply to  Braden Keith
7 years ago

??

mike
7 years ago

This summer,Chinese swimmer and Janpanese swimmer will compete in 200 IM

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  mike
7 years ago

Japan will most probably be the best at it .

dunc1952
7 years ago

Kind of interesting that a swimmer signs with Bridgestone just shortly after Tiger Woods signed to play with their golf balls.

Ervin
7 years ago

Do universities in Japan have swim teams? and a system like the NCAA? I’m kinda confused as to why hes just now turning pro

Admin
Reply to  Ervin
7 years ago

Ervin – they do! That’s part of why Japan is so strong at the World University Games, and they also have a very impressive college championship meet. Not quite as well developed as the American system, but they do have teams.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Braden Keith
7 years ago

They might have the best college / University structure after the Usa .

Human Ambition
7 years ago

Good Luck Kosuke!

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

Read More »