Kosuke Kitajima: The Breaststroke King Who Swept Two Olympics
Kosuke Kitajima: The Breaststroke King Who Swept Two Olympics
Four Olympic golds, an unmatched breaststroke double-double and the first man under 59 seconds. Here is Kosuke Kitajima’s career.
Kosuke Kitajima is the greatest breaststroke swimmer Japan has produced and one of the finest in history. He swept the 100m and 200m breaststroke at both Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 — the first and only swimmer to win both breaststroke events at consecutive Olympics — for four Olympic golds, and became the first man under 59 seconds in the 100m breaststroke.
In this guide
1. A breaststroke double-double
2. Breaking 59 seconds
3. A long career
4. Why he matters
1. A breaststroke double-double
A feat no one else has matched.
Kitajima won both the 100m and 200m breaststroke at Athens 2004 and again at Beijing 2008 — the first and only swimmer to sweep the breaststroke events at consecutive Olympics, giving him four Olympic golds.1
2. Breaking 59 seconds
A barrier no man had crossed.
At Beijing 2008 he became the first man to break 59 seconds in the 100m breaststroke, winning gold in 58.91.1 His powerful, technically refined stroke reshaped how the event was swum.
3. A long career
Three Olympics, seven medals.
Across 2004, 2008 and 2012 Kitajima won four golds, one silver and two bronze — including relay medals — one of the most decorated careers in Japanese swimming history.1
4. Why he matters
Japan’s pool icon.
Kitajima made breaststroke Japan’s signature swimming event and inspired a generation. He sits alongside the other Olympic greats profiled across our development hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many Olympic golds did Kosuke Kitajima win?
Four — the 100m and 200m breaststroke at both 2004 and 2008.
What was his historic first?
He was the first and only swimmer to sweep both breaststroke events at consecutive Olympics, and the first man under 59 seconds in the 100m breaststroke (58.91).
How many Olympics did he swim?
Three — 2004, 2008 and 2012 — for seven medals in total.
Keep exploring
Explore the stories, systems and culture behind Japanese sport.
Sources & notes
- Four Olympic golds (100m/200m breaststroke 2004 & 2008), only swimmer to sweep breaststroke at consecutive Games; first man under 59s (58.91, 2008); 4G/1S/2B across 2004–2012. Wikipedia; Olympics.com.
A profile dated 19 June 2026. No copyrighted material is reproduced.
📅 更新履歴
| 日付 | 変更内容 |
|---|---|
| 2026年6月21日 | 初回公開 |
| 2026年6月22日 | 情報を更新 |
✅ ファクト再検証
最終検証日：2026年6月22日
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