Rio Olympics 2016

Hagino, who won IM bronze in 2012, held the lead following the backstroke and touched home just ahead of Kalisz in a time of four minutes 06.95 seconds.

Kalisz took silver in 4:07.75 and Hagino's team-mate Daiya Seto was third in 4:09.71.

Great Britain's Max Litchfield, 21, in his first Games, was fourth in 4:11.62.

The pair are ranked 19th in the world and need to get inside the top-16 by June to book their spot in Rio next August.

Pata and Matauata finished in a share of 17th place at the World Championships earlier this year and last weekend regained the Oceania women's title.

Pata, who was named MVP of that event, says they will resume their quest for rankings points in the new year.

New Zealand made the final of the Oceania qualifying tournament in June but semifinal opponent Vanuatu protested that South African-born defender Deklan Wynne didn't meet FIFA eligibility criteria.

New Zealand Football said Friday it had legal advice recommending an appeal to the Oceania Football Confederation, but felt there was too great a risk to other players from pursuing the case.

Media reports in New Zealand suggest that as many as 18 players who have represented New Zealand from under-17 to senior level in recent seasons may have been similarly ineligible.