Kosuke Hagino: Japan’s Rio 2016 Medley Champion
Kosuke Hagino: Japan’s Rio 2016 Medley Champion
A 400m individual medley gold in Rio and the first Japanese double in a swim race since 1956. Here is Kosuke Hagino’s story.
Kosuke Hagino won the 400m individual medley at the Rio 2016 Olympics in 4:06.05 — Japan’s first gold of those Games and the first Japanese swimmer to win the event, ending two decades of US dominance. In the same race, Daiya Seto took bronze — the first time since 1956 that two Japanese men medalled in one swimming race.
1. Gold in Rio
Japan’s first gold of the Games.
At Rio 2016, Hagino won the 400m individual medley in 4:06.05 — the first Japanese swimmer to win the event, ending a US grip on it dating back to 1996.1 He had taken bronze in the same event at London 2012.1
2. Two on the podium
A national double.
Compatriot Daiya Seto took bronze in the same final — the first time since 1956 that two Japanese men won medals in a single swimming race.1
3. The all-round medley
Master of all four strokes.
The 400m IM demands excellence across butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle — the ultimate test of all-round swimming, and Hagino’s signature event.
4. Why he matters
A new chapter for Japanese swimming.
Hagino extended Japan’s strong swimming tradition into a new event, complementing breaststroke great Kosuke Kitajima in the country’s pool history.
Frequently asked questions
What did Kosuke Hagino win?
The 400m individual medley gold at Rio 2016, in 4:06.05.
Why was it historic?
He was the first Japanese swimmer to win the event, and it was Japan’s first gold of the Rio Games.
Did another Japanese swimmer medal in the race?
Yes — Daiya Seto took bronze, the first Japanese double in one swimming race since 1956.
Keep exploring
Explore the stories, systems and culture behind Japanese sport.
Sources & notes
- Rio 2016 400m IM gold 4:06.05, first Japanese to win the event, Japan’s first gold of the Games, ended US dominance since 1996; London 2012 bronze; Daiya Seto bronze (first Japanese double in a swim race since 1956). Japan Times; Wikipedia.
A profile dated 21 June 2026. No copyrighted material is reproduced.
📅 更新履歴
| 日付 | 変更内容 |
|---|---|
| 2026年6月22日 | 初回公開 |
✅ ファクト再検証
最終検証日：2026年6月22日
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