Japanese breaststroker Kosuke Kitajima has signed a sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola (Japan) for an undisclosed fee running through March 2009, the Athens Olympic double gold medalist said Thursday.

Kitajima, who announced the deal after attending his university graduation ceremony, will be the first athlete to sign a sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola (Japan) and will bear the soft drinks maker's logo on his swimwear at next month's national championships in Yokohama. Kitajima was one of three high-profile Japanese athletes to shun the Japan Olympic Committee's "Symbol Athlete" program at the end of last year.