Japanese swimming star Kosuke Kitajima, who has completed a second successive Olympic breaststroke double, says he intends to retire after the Beijing Games.

　　"I am doing this with that in mind," the 25-year-old told Japanese media following his 200m victory which followed his 100m triumph in world-record time.

　　Kitajima could race the last major event of his career when he takes part in the 4x100m medley relay on Sunday.

　　"Inside myself, I feel it's over," Kitajima was quoted as saying by the Yomiuri Shimbun.

　　"I have taken it as the last time and the results have made my team and my coach happy."

　　Coach Norimasa Hirai said: "I was watching and thinking to myself that this may be the last time I see him swim flat out in the 200m," the Sports Hochi reported.

　　"By coaching Kosuke, I have felt like I am back in my youth again. I have been happy."

　　Kitajima's Olympics challenge started when he finished fourth in the 100m at the 2000 Sydney Games, the best finish for a Japanese male swimmer at that date.

　　His first world class victory came at the 2002 Pan-Pacific championships when he won the 100m, followed by double gold medals at the 2002 Asian Games and at the 2003 world championships.

　　He has competed with American rival Brendan Hansen in lowering the world marks in both distances.

　　Kitajima slashed Hansen's two-year-old 200m mark by 0.99 seconds to 2:07.51 at a domestic meet in June, wearing Speedo's blockbuster LZR Racer swimsuit for the first time in competition.

　　Hansen failed to qualify for the 200m at the US trials and finished fourth in the 100m here.