Celebrity File Japan by Lint


英文		重要語句
■ Being an island nation is no guarantee that a nation can produce world-class swimmers―after all look at a weak aquatic sporting nation like Indonesia with thousands of islands and a large population to draw on. Japan on the other hand, is finally experiencing a boom time in the pool after a long drought. The funny thing is it is not its high-profile women's team which has the star of stars but a male swimmer―Kosuke Kitajima. Just back from the World Aquatic Championships in Barcelona on July 2003, this 20-year-old Tokyoite brought back two gold medals both won in world record times.		island nation　島国 aquatic　水の；水中で行う draw on ...　 …に頼る on the other hand　逆に boom time　好況期 long drought　日照り続き high-profile　人目を引く；知名度の高い
■■ In becoming the first gold medallist from Japan, since backstroker Daichi Suzuki in 1988, Kitajima has stunned the swimming world. Everyone knew he was a great swimmer as he broke the 200-meter world breaststroke record last year in October at the Asian Games in Busan. He even boasted back then that his goal was to break the world record in Barcelona and put himself in the record books. Well, that boast came true but he also finally proved that he could beat the best in the world head-to-head in not only the 200- but also the 100-meter breaststroke. With that double gold performance, he did in fact make history as he became only the third swimmer at the Worlds to win both of these events in the same meet.		stun　…をびっくりさせる breaststroke　平泳ぎ boast　…と豪語する；豪語 back then　その当時 head-to-head　接戦の meet　運動競技会
■■■ The world records have been a long time coming for Japan. The last time any Asian swimmer held a world record in any swimming event was back in 1972 when Nobutaka Taguchi held the record in the very same 100-meter breaststroke. Taguchi went on to win the gold at the 1972 Munich Olympics.		come for ...　 …に向かってくる Munich　ミュンヘン
■■■■ What is even more mind-blowing is Kitajima's record-breaking performance in this shorter distance. He was lying sixth at the halfway point of the 100-meter breaststroke final! With that kind of come-from-behind finishing kick to take the gold, who would bet against him at next year's Summer Olympics in Athens? After all, at age 17, he almost garnered a medal at the last Olympics in Sydney winding up fourth in the 100.		mind-blowing　驚かせる come-from-behind　逆転の bet against ...　 …が負けるほうに賭ける garner　…を手に入れる wind up ...　 …で終わる
■■■■■ Kitajima, despite all his success, still remains as humble as ever. This third-year student at Nippon Sport Science University was quoted as saying he only hoped his performance in Barcelona would inspire the rest of the Japanese swim contingent. It worked as Japan took home a total of nine medals and finished a very impressive sixth overall in the team standings.		humble　謙虚な inspire　…に活気を与える contingent　選手団 standing　ランキング
■■■■■■ The affable young swimmer has always been a team player and inspiration to his teammates. He also showed that directly by helping the Japan men's team to a bronze in the 4 x 100-meter medley relay.		affable　愛想の良い inspiration　鼓舞（する人）
■■■■■■■ Kitajima is not only looking forward to more success in his sport. He has just signed up with Sunny Side Up, the management company that also has soccer star Hidetoshi Nakata as one of its clients. The swimmer hopes to cash in on his popularity and looks at Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe as his role model both in and out of the pool. So not only look for Kitajima's smiling face at next summer's Olympics but we should be seeing him soon on TV and in magazine ads throughout Japan battling Nakata and the Thorpedo in the popularity stakes.		sign up with ...　…と契約する cash in on ...　 …で儲ける role model　模範になる人 the popularity stakes　人気度

－written by Brian Maitland

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