Swim star Kosuke Hagino believes he is ready to end years of American Olympic dominance as he bids to get Japan off to a golden start at the Rio Games this weekend.
Hagino will attempt to live up to the expectations of a nation when he begins his Olympic campaign in the men's 400-meter individual medley on Saturday, potentially giving Japan its first gold medal of the 2016 Games in a race in which he is a hot favorite.
American swimmers have claimed gold in the event at each of the past five Olympics, but Hagino is confident of upsetting the order as he bids to improve on his bronze medal from four years ago.