<p>At the 101st Japan Swimming Championships (venue: Tokyo Aquatics Center) held from March 19 to 22, Rikako Ikee (25, Yokohama Rubber) won the women&#8217;s 50m and 100m butterfly and women&#8217;s 50m freestyle events that she entered, achieving a triple crown. Behind her great performance was Kousuke Hagino (31), who was scooped by Friday for his passionate love &#8230;&#8230;.&#8217; We look back based on the article distributed on February 28, 26.</p>
<figure id="attachment_458825" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-458825" style="width: 1976px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="af00c9ec"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/cd3af62ccd0f3189d1dd85adcdb97499-2.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458825" class="wp-caption-text"> Rikako Ikee and Kosuke Hagino shopping at a convenience store before the drive.</figcaption></figure>
<h2><span class="strongInContent"> Taking a break from their busy schedule</span></h2>
<p> It was a weekend in early February. A car, shimmering in the sun in &#8220;gold medal colors,&#8221; pulled into a convenience store in Tokyo. Getting out of the driver&#8217;s seat was a woman who exuded an aura that rivaled the flamboyant car: Rikako Ikee, a heroine in the world of swimming.</p>
<p> Next to her, a stout man dressed in a reddish-brown paisley jacket and purple sneakers, another unique color scheme, was running alongside her. He is swimming legend Kousuke Hagino, 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 and drinks 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 made 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, and then &#8211; what?　Are they headed 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. 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,&#8221; said an acquaintance of Hagino&#8217;s.</span></p>
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<p> It seems that they spent their time together in warm hot springs instead of swimming pools &#8230;&#8230;. Perhaps the trip was so enjoyable that on February 11, Ikegoe updated his Instagram page and posted his 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>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Ikee had a practice session coming up at the end of the week, so it must have literally been a bullet trip. Even so, I think she was able to relax a little.</span></p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Last June, their relationship changed."></div>
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<h2><span class="strongInContent">The two looked like close siblings.</span></h2>
<p> Speaking of Ikee and Hagino, their tearful hug at the &#8217;24 Paris Olympics was memorable. Ikegoe was recovering from leukemia, and was competing in an individual event for the first time in two events.</p>
<p> However, after losing in the semifinals, she broke down in tears at the poolside. Hagino, who was there as a reporter to cover the event, gently hugged Ikee after the interview and congratulated her on a job well done.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> The two first met in 2004, when Ikee qualified for the Rio Olympics. Ikegae has admired Hagino since that time, and when Hagino uploaded a &#8220;creepy shot&#8221; on Instagram showing off his shoe collection with a smug look on his face, Ikegae teased him by posting a photo of the same composition. Before the Tokyo Olympics, Hagino once encouraged Ikegae by sending her a shout out, &#8220;Let&#8217;s win a gold medal together. They seemed like a close brother and sister to everyone around them,&#8221; said an official of the swimming association.</span></p>
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<p> Their relationship changed last June. Ikee had been training in Australia since 2011, but in 2013, her coach suddenly moved his base of operations to China. Since then, he has been training under a different coach, but eventually decided to return to Japan.</p>
<p> Having lost his trusted coach, Ikegoe turned to Hagino.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Hagino was the one he turned to,&#8221; Ikegoe said. Hagino married singer-songwriter miwa in 2007. They had their first child together, but due to their busy schedules, they divorced in 1949. Hagino is divorced and has a child, so when I heard about this, I had some misgivings, but it seems my fears were unfounded, as the two have known each other for 10 years.</span></p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> </span>Is it really true that they are dating? Ikee&#8217;s office responded to FRIDAY, &#8220;We will refrain from confirming details or answering questions about private matters, as we leave such matters to the discretion of the individual concerned. Hagino&#8217;s office also did not deny their relationship, saying, &#8220;We leave his private life to him, so we will refrain from commenting on it.</p>
<p> Hagino&#8217;s presence is significant for Ikegoe, who is in the midst of her final preparations for the Japan Championships coming up in March.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Hagino&#8217;s presence is significant for Ikegoe, who is now pushing hard for the Japan Championships coming up in March, &#8220;I get advice directly from a gold medalist. She says she has not yet moved in with Hagino so that she can concentrate on her competitions. Ikee will be 28 years old when the Los Angeles Olympics in 2008, which she says will be the culmination of her career, are over. By that time, their relationship may have taken the next step.</span></p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" I want to go to the Olympics, but that&#39;s not all."></div>
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<h2><span class="strongInContent"> </span><span class="strongInContent">Hagino&#8217;s presence is behind her excellent performance</span></h2>
<p> Ikee won the triple crown in March, and in the 50m, she surpassed the standard record for the Aichi/Nagoya Asian Games, which will be held in September. He has been selected as a member of the national team. She is now training hard for the competition.</p>
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<p> Meanwhile, Ikegae appeared on the May 1 broadcast of &#8220;A-Studio +&#8221; (TBS). She talked about her current situation and her personal life. Just before the taping, she swam 6,000 meters,</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> She said, &#8220;Now is the time for me to push my training harder.</span></p>
<p> He said, &#8220;Now is the time for me to push myself harder in training. On the other hand, he revealed that he had a few drinks at a yakitori restaurant the night before,</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> Basically, I don&#8217;t keep track of my diet. I don&#8217;t worry about what I eat or drink.</span></p>
<p> I don&#8217;t care what I eat or drink,&#8221; he said. If I were not a swimmer, what would I do? I don&#8217;t have to worry about what I eat or drink,</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> If I had been a normal working adult, I would have wanted to say things like, &#8220;Oh, I missed the train. Also, I can&#8217;t say it out loud, but I&#8217;d like to go on blind dates.</span></p>
<p> He smiled. Still, when asked about the Los Angeles Olympics to be held in 2008, she said, &#8220;Of course, I&#8217;m aiming for that,</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> I think being a swimmer is not interesting enough for me. Of course I want to go. Of course I want to go, but I don&#8217;t think that&#8217;s all I want to do.</span></p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> </span>I want to go, of course, but I&#8217;m not sure that&#8217;s all I want to do,&#8221; she said, revealing her complicated feelings.</p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> She is currently without a coach,&#8221; he said. The people involved say that Hagino&#8217;s presence is a big reason why she was able to win the triple crown in the March competition. It is believed that she is still advising Ikegoe in various ways, and it seems likely that they will continue to be the best of partners in both their private and public lives.</span></p>
<p> Ikee, now fully recovered, is aiming for the pinnacle with her best partner.</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Rikako Ikee and Kousuke Hagino two-shot image"></div>
<figure id="attachment_458827" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-458827" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="fbf6e0fe"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/9da4d02bbd882b092b3d75a510b10015.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458827" class="wp-caption-text">Hagino at the wheel of Ikee&#8217;s beloved car. Ikee, sitting in the passenger seat, also looked completely relaxed.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_458829" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-458829" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="41e63f21"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/afbdbfff40db5c06ce633554e1ff39a7.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458829" class="wp-caption-text"> Hagino makes a gesture as if checking the route to Hakone.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_458940" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-458940" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="0aeb427a"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/578aaad6ebbb11a793b84778aa254253.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458940" class="wp-caption-text"> I hope that he will lead Ikegoe to the gold medal not only in his personal life, but also in competition!</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_458941" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-458941" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="499959a3"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/1f848783b982124d59d13a18a3f82022.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458941" class="wp-caption-text"> Even with the mask on, you can see Ikee&#8217;s smile is still all over the place!</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_458942" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-458942" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="dcd7ad02"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2026/02/ec3eedec089b7383afc9cf720422be75.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-458942" class="wp-caption-text"> The two were walking bouncily.</figcaption></figure>


 Shu Nishihara

 It was in early February that we scooped the "Hakone trip" of Rikako Ikee and Kosuke Hagino, a big couple in the swimming world. Subsequently, Ikee won the triple crown at the Japan Championships in March. Behind this success was the presence of Hagino....

 Rikako Ikee and Kosuke Hagino, the 26-year old hot love scoop "After that hot love scoop

Rikako Ikegae, who is on a roll, won the triple crown at the Japan Championships!　Rikako Ikee, in great form, &#8220;After&#8221; her &#8220;Hakone hot spring trip&#8221; alone with Kosuke Hagino in his car

Rikako Ikegae, who is on a roll, won the triple crown at the Japan Championships!　Rikako Ikee, in great form, “After” her “Hakone hot spring trip” alone with Kosuke Hagino in his car

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Rikako Ikegae, who is on a roll, won the triple crown at the Japan Championships! Rikako Ikee, in great form, “After” her “Hakone hot spring trip” alone with Kosuke Hagino in his car

Access Ranking

Rikako Ikegae, who is on a roll, won the triple crown at the Japan Championships!　Rikako Ikee, in great form, “After” her “Hakone hot spring trip” alone with Kosuke Hagino in his car