Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima, Olympic breaststroke champion, to return to the pool in November

Japan’s Olympic champ Kitajima set to dive back in

TOKYO — Double Olympic breaststroke champion Kosuke Kitajima will return to competitive swimming next month for the first time since the Beijing Olympics.

The 27-year-old Kitajima has entered the 50-, 100- and 200-meter breaststroke events at a Nov. 20-23 meet at the Tokyo Swimming Center, organizers said Thursday.

Kitajima, who successfully defended his 2004 titles from Athens in the men’s 100- and 200-meter breaststroke in Beijing, said after the Olympics he was considering retirement.

He opted out of this year’s national championships as well as the world championships in Rome in July.

However, Kitajima recently indicated he may compete at the London Olympics in 2012.