May 20 (swimmingworldmagazine.com) - With the Olympics just months away, Norimasa Hirai will retire as chairman of the Japan Swimming Federation.
According to Yahoo Japan, Hirai’s retirement was approved by the Japanese swimming committee on May 10.
Hirai coached Olympic gold medalist Kosuke Kitajima and was named the head coach of the Japan national team after the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He began serving as chairman of the Japanese Swimming Federation in 2015.
The replacement will be announced with the June re-election of Japan Swimming Federation officers, according to the report.
There are multiple candidates who are possible candidates to replace Hirai.
Takayuki Umehara, who has coached Daiya Seto in the past, is a candidate to take over the post, according to Yahoo Japan.