Olympic swim champion Kosuke Hagino said Friday he has pulled out of next month’s Japanese championships, blaming a lack of hunger and triggering concerns about his appetite for Tokyo 2020.
The 24-year-old was Japan’s best hope for a swimming gold medal next year alongside Olympic poster girl Rikako Ikee, who was diagnosed with leukaemia last month.
“I’ve been unable to achieve the results I had hoped for since the 2017 season,” Hagino said in a statement.
“As the gap between my targets and reality has widened, it has become harder for me to maintain my motivation.”
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