Nippon Won the Third Prize of the Swimming Competition, Beijing Olympic Game, 2008

Oita Godo Newspaper (page 1, morning edition on August 18, 2008)

         On August 17, Nippon won the third prize of male’s 400-metre medley swimming competition at Beijing Olympic Game, as their second bronze medal continuously of the biggest competition like this.

         For the most famous Japanese swimmer, “Kitajima Kensuke”, this is counted as his third medal since he won other 2 types of breaststroking (3 medals from 6 competitions). 

         Overall, Nippon got 8 gold, 5 silver, and 7 bronze medals (20 in total of today).

         From the same competition, the first place was given to the United States’ team including Michael Phelps, the incredible swimmer of the year. He finally got the eighth gold medal from the whole 14 competitions as he expected and announced to the public earlier. This is newly recorded in to the history of Olympic Games (the most in the past was 7 gold medals by Mark Spitz in 1972 Munich Olympic Games).

Comment:  I think I can feel their great great effort!!!!!  Congratulations to those who got the medal and even to those who did not because just being accepted to the Olympic competition is the honorable thing enough in life. I am very proud of all of you.

PUNTHUCHAT Siripun

Thailand

APS3, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University