Japan's Kosuke Hagino exorcised the demons of a horror 2015 season Saturday as he romped to Olympic gold in the men's 400 metres individual medley, an event American swimmers have owned for decades. The Asian champion, who pipped Michael Phelps to take bronze behind gold medallist Ryan Lochte in London four years ago, dominated the Rio final a year after the heartbreak of missing the world championships with injury. Hagino won in four minutes, 6.05 seconds after holding off late pressure from American Chase Kalisz, celebrating by slapping the pool wall with both hands and letting out a roar of delight.
