Japanese swimmer Kosuke Hagino; Photo courtesy of Kyodo News
Taipei, Aug. 18 (CNA) Olympic gold medalists, including Japanese swimmer Kosuke Hagino and American swimmer Ryan Held, will be among the athletes competing at the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei.
Hagino, a four-time Olympic medalist, won the gold medal in the 400-meter individual medley at the 2016 Rio Olympics, while Held snatched gold in the 4×100 m freestyle relay at the 2016 Olympics.
Although the official competition list has yet to be announced, many athletes have already completed their registration at the games.
Japan has brought a strong swimming squad including several 2016 Olympic medalists, such as Hagino, Daiya Seto, who grabbed a bronze medal in the men's 400-meter individual medley and Yuki Kobori, who won bronze in the men's 4 × 200-meter freestyle relay.
Others on the Japanese swimming roster include Kanako Watanabe, gold medalist in the women's 200-meter breaststroke at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships.
However, the United States, which dominated the swimming event at the 2015 Gwangju Universiade with 34 medals, including 15 golds, also has a strong squad this year.
In addition to Held, Ella Eastin, who won silver in the women's 400-meter individual medley at the 2016 FINA World Swimming Championships and Katie McLaughlin, who won a gold medal in the women's 4×200-meter freestyle relay at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships, will also represent the USA at the Universiade.
Australia is sending 19 swimmers to the games, including Ben Treffers, who won gold in the men's 50-meter backstroke at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Leiston Pickett, who grabbed gold in the women's 50-meter breaststroke at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
In taekwondo, British athlete Lutalo Muhammad will take part. Muhammad won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Competing in fencing is American Alexander Massialas, who won a silver medal in the men's foil at the 2016 Olympics.
Kim Woo-Jin, who won gold as a member of the South Korean men's archery team at the 2016 Olympics, will participate in the archery competition.
Also drawing attention is Carl Lewis, winner of nine Olympic gold medals in track and field. He is the track coach for team USA. The legendary athlete is the only man to have won the Olympic long jump title four consecutive times.
The Taipei Universiade will run from Aug. 19-30. Athletes from 142 countries will compete in 22 different sports at the largest sporting event ever held in Taiwan.
