RIO DE JANEIRO: Japan's Kosuke Hagino fired a warning to Michael Phelps before Wednesday's Olympic 200m individual medley semi-finals, telling the American superstar: "Bring it on!"
Hagino, targeting a medley double after storming to Rio gold in the 400m at the weekend, won his heat in 1min 58.79sec -- a shade behind Phelps and fellow American Ryan Lochte, who topped the time-sheets.
Phelps, the most decorated Olympic athlete in history, has caught fire again at these Games, striking gold in the 200m butterfly as well as the 4x100m and 4x200m free relays to finish day four with a career 21 gold medals and counting.
"It doesn't matter a bit if he's on a roll," Hagino told AFP. "That doesn't affect what I need to do. It's no problem at all -- I can't wait to race him."
Hagino's convincing win in the 400m medley banished the demons of a nightmare 2015 season that saw Asia's top swimmer miss the world championships in Kazan.
But the 200m is a different animal and Hagino will face furious competition from Phelps -- who has incredibly won this event for the past three Olympics -- and world record holder Lochte.
"The 200 is a test of speed obviously," said Hagino. "The heats are all part of the process of working yourself into top shape.
"I expected that sort of time," added the 21-year-old. "I didn't try to push it too hard when it's not needed. I'll just hope to leave it all out there to try to beat Phelps and Lochte."
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