Off Track ..... Japanese read all about it after swimming gold

TOKYO: Japanese newspapers rushed out special editions to celebrate swimmer Kosuke Kitajima's gold medal in the 100m Olympic breaststroke yesterday.

Kitajima's victory helped to ease the disappointment after judoka Ryoko Tani, one of Japan's most popular athletes, won only a bronze at the weekend after golds in two previous Games.

People flocked to buy special editions of newspapers Yomiuri, Asahi and Sports Nippon on the streets of Tokyo after Kitajima, 25, broke the world record yesterday and became the first swimmer to win Olympic 100m breaststroke at successive Games.