Kosuke's smackdown, Schubert responds

OMAHA -- Kosuke Kitajima reacted in an interesting way to Brendan Hansen's failure on Thursday night in the 200-meter breaststroke.

He wrote about it.

And Kitajima, the longtime rival of Hansen, was harsh in his post-race analysis. Of Hansen's fourth-place finish, he wrote on his own official website that Hansen basically choked. The language was more polite ("for a swimmer of his level it shouldn't be that difficult to qualify"), but the message was clear.

You could practically hear Kitajima sniff from his training base in Flagstaff, Ariz., where he is doing some high-altitude training.

Suddenly, these guys are getting really interesting -- and a little testy. Hansen is vowing to do what he can to help his former understudies -- Scott Spann and Eric Shanteau -- beat Kitajima in the 200.

Of course, there still will be one Hansen vs. Kitajima showdown in China, the 100 breaststroke.

The animosity goes back to 2004 when Hansen's buddy, Aaron Peirsol, accused Kitajima of "cheating" at the Olympics in Athens by using an illegal dolphin kick in winning the 100 breaststroke.

This all resurfaced during a chat with USA Swimming's head coach, Mark Schubert, during the drawn-out preliminary heats of the men's 1,500 freestyle. He was asked about Kitajima's comments and whether he had gotten to Hansen.

"I think the only time Kitajima got to Brendan was when we had definitive [video] evidence of cheating in the 100 breaststroke in Athens," Schubert told The Times. "That got to him, but not in a negative way.

"Brendan's been around a long time and he's a great champion. He did everything he needed to do in the 100. He kind of came into this meet a little bit under-rested. He hopes to have a lot more in the tank in Beijing. I don't think it at all indicates he was overconfident.

"But I do think it indicates he was confident. It was one race he was unsuccessful. It happens to everybody. It's so unfortunate that it happens to a great champion at a meet like this because there's no second chances."

-- Lisa Dillman

Top photo: Brendan Hansen, center, looks down at the lane marker as Scott Spann, left, and Eric Shanteau look up at the timing clock after the 200-meter breaststroke final on Thursday night. Credit: Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press

Inset: In 2004, Japan's Kosuke Kitajima won the gold but was later accused of using an illegal dolphin kick. Brendan Hansen took the silver. Credit: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Tara]

Brendan is a true athlete, a true Olympian. He takes everything with grace and pride. I'd rather have that sort of man representing me than even the greatest swimmer of all time.

But why choose when I can obviously have both?

Brendan had an off day. He's still going to own the pool when he swims in the 100m. He's keeping everyone on their toes. Let Japan breathe more easily now; the rude awakening will be when Brendan comes home with his 100m gold and Scott and Eric come with the gold and silver.

It's going to be a beautiful Games.

Best of luck to the Red, White, and Blue!