TOKYO — Double Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima of Japan set a world record in the men's 200 meter breaststroke on Sunday.

Wearing Speedo's LZR Racer, Kitajima finished in 2 minutes, 07.51 seconds at the Japan Open, taking almost a second off the previous mark set by American Brendan Hansen in 2006.

"This gives me a lot of confidence," said Kitajima. "The only thing I have in mind right now is to win the gold in Beijing."

It is the 38th world record set by a swimmer using Speedo's LZR Racer swimsuit since it was introduced in February.

Kitajima, who won the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke at the 2004 Olympics, also set two national records at the meet.

Kitajima is contracted to wear a Mizuno swimsuit at the Beijing Olympics, but the Japan Swimming Federation will meet Tuesday to discuss the contract.