<figure id="attachment_458132" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-458132" style="width: 1976px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="32f744a2"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/cd3af62ccd0f3189d1dd85adcdb97499.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458132" class="wp-caption-text">The two men stocked up at a convenience store before the drive. Hagino was impressive in his supportive role, holding Ikee&#8217;s iced café au lait.</figcaption></figure>
<h2><span class="strongInContent"> Calle at the wheel of his beloved car. &#8230;&#8230;</span></h2>
<p> It was on a weekend in early February that I witnessed a passionate performance by Olympians that was as good as the Milan Cortina Olympics.</p>
<p> A car, shimmering in the sun in &#8220;gold medal colors,&#8221; entered a convenience store in Tokyo. Getting out of the driver&#8217;s seat was Rikako Ikee, 25, a heroine in the swimming world, who exudes an aura that is as strong as the flamboyant car.</p>
<p> Next to her, a stout man dressed in a reddish-brown paisley jacket and purple sneakers, another unique color scheme, was driving alongside her. He is swimming legend Kousuke Hagino, 31, who won the gold medal in the 400m individual medley at the 2004 Rio Olympics.</p>
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<p> The two men chatted and bought snacks, drinks, and other items in a deft hand. They were probably preparing for the drive ahead. Hagino jumped into the driver&#8217;s seat with an air of familiarity, and Ikee took the passenger seat. The gold medal car got off to a quiet start.</p>
<p> Two top athletes, the pride of the Japanese swimming world. We thought they were heading to a training facility, but the Gold Medal Car was headed from the Metropolitan Expressway to the Tomei Expressway, taking a break at the Ebina Service Area.　Are they heading for Hakone?</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Actually, these two have been in a serious relationship since last fall. On this day, they took advantage of a short break and went on a hot spring trip to Hakone in Ikee&#8217;s car.</span><span class="strongInContent"> Ikee is training hard day after day for the Los Angeles Olympics, and Hagino is traveling around the country as a commentator and teaching swimming lessons. On this day, Ikee trained in the morning and Hagino joined her after a live radio broadcast.</span></p>
<figure id="attachment_458217" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-458217" style="width: 828px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="5340127b"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/0793d9884c79386f88fb1fb7185de5f4.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458217" class="wp-caption-text"> On February 11, Ikee posted about her trip to Hakone. There was no text, just an accompanying emoji, but her soft facial expression suggested that she was relaxed (from her SNS).</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_458127" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-458127" style="width: 986px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="9fab117f"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/19dab4f534e0960a47936f70127e52f4.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458127" class="wp-caption-text"> He also posted a photo with an inn in the background. It must have been a good change of pace for her during her hard training.</figcaption></figure>
<p> It seems that she spent her time in a warm hot spring instead of a swimming pool &#8230;&#8230;. Ikee must have really enjoyed the trip, because on February 11, she updated her Instagram page and posted her memories of the trip.</p>
<p> From the post, it seems that she stayed at a 4-star ryokan (Japanese inn) famous for its private rooms with open-air baths. The music that accompanied the post was the love ballad &#8220;Snowman&#8221; by the famous Australian singer Sia. The lyrics in the chorus, &#8220;No matter what the season, you are the place I return to,&#8221; may have represented Ikee&#8217;s feelings for Hagino.</p>
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<p> The February 19 issue of &#8220;FRIDAY March 6&#8221; and the paid edition of &#8220;FRIDAY GOLD&#8221; report the events that led to their relationship, &#8220;certain insecurities&#8221; revealed by a source, and their friendly Hakone date, along with photos.</p>
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<p> For more details and multiple photos, click here.</p>
<div data-friday-gold-link-url="https://friday.gold/article/398825" data-friday-gold-link-title="Rikako Ikee and Kosuke Hagino, the BIG couple of the swimming world! A trip to Hakone in their beloved car, just the two of them!" data-friday-gold-link-excerpt=" A year and a half after their &quot;tearful hug&quot; at the Paris Olympics, two Olympians are in a serious relationship, and a divorced senior gold medalist is supporting the national swimmer! In February, I witnessed the passionate collaboration between Olympians, which was just as strong as at the Milan Cortina Olympics." data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-wide="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2026/02/6a13c7ced01f7bb10f749fa89a82ef47-18085424348297.jpg/v/crop-faces:width=256,height=144/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=SZLEyeYbERGOF97tAPF42VJ0ndvlDsZa3S-mfcr8zXbi4FP-hn9mckGqbP2rjcaJSoe97PReosApv8p0t5gTBuitaXaX541bkDO6C0PQIC4a2Ji1lCdWWxee5IQHDZrtJW129d3gQW9IrAkwJRTZZB~XqYvJHIX10BIR9RAiy3DsOOTbOyVrh-NW6xDUud6rN~VN1WjjXD4yiAkLnsjRpXPL0kDBk3XMSS1CQMb6sHWZcpdZQV-p3c9X49WKqP61zRrVRbUlH5norW-Z6EjAhnK8zJL25Pk2YkY3Zymwhi5ZvtG76q1rmV3oEKiWR7TvgZcjtLjfRCiWsp7bptARbA__" data-friday-gold-link-thumbnail-square="https://assets.friday.gold/friday-wp-production-assets/app/uploads/2026/02/6a13c7ced01f7bb10f749fa89a82ef47-18085424348297.jpg/v/crop-faces:width=105,height=105/format:type=webp?Expires=4102444800&amp;Key-Pair-Id=K2H5GZZHVJCN4V&amp;Signature=SJB4UG5Chz-ff0xtN2H8riXmLSwvXhNnBI~mZvxh~evNzA73jkEwtdmbJlKGYZskNLXfv8d0GJXg1-7U0PqG0Yv5v8pWU3gqSsV0Cskdy-wTeR5e-KB6aL~QuK3U2g1U5WE~FMhUXWC7MhcPM8gvoJJRLhvcQlUkLioqYmQNl5GRQ~mfhK24o03FTThYv0f5XUFH6L0mo8Z4MdhjNxjZXEidBdsctclmVybJu9cKCZW2fl8XsNgrv8auU-NRLrKV3bugmVrlRo2vGM~kRkIKQQKqbJLPWeiIyqO-tmYNuziT13UUsJ6t5CU8EXptaEk5p5Rnil8Q2Ly3E2Ads8rSfA__"></div>
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<p> From the March 6, 2026 issue of &#8220;FRIDAY</p>
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 Shu Nishihara

 A year and a half after their "tearful hug" at the Paris Olympics, Rikako Ikee and Kousuke Hagino have been in a serious relationship since last fall. We caught them on a "hot spring trip to Hakone" alone together in their beloved car!　Ikee must have had a lot of fun, because she posted her memories of the trip on her SNS.

Rikako Ikee and Kosuke Hagino! Rikako Ikee and Kosuke Hagino… “Hot Springs Trip to Hakone” alone in their beloved car!

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