The Japan Swimming Federation named Kosuke Kitajima as the 2003 Most Valuable Player on Friday, granting him the top distinction for the second year in a row.
Kitajima struck double gold in the men's 100- and 200-meter breaststroke while setting world records in both disciplines at the Swimming World Championships in Barcelona last summer, becoming only the third swimmer in history to accomplish the feat.
Tomomi Morita, a member of the bronze-winning men's 400-meter medley relay team at the worlds, received the rookie award after being selected top by the Tokyo Sports Writers Association's swimming department.