Daichi Suzuki

Daichi Suzuki (鈴木 大地, Suzuki Daichi) (born March 10, 1967 in Narashino, Chiba) is a retired Japanese backstroke swimmer. He won a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Japan's First Chief Commissioner of Sports Agency (2015 - 2020). Chair of Japan Swimming Federation (2013 - 2015, 2021 - ). Professor and Associate Dean, Faculty of Health and Sports Science at Juntendo University.

For the baseball player, see Daichi Suzuki (baseball).
Daichi Suzuki
Daichi Suzuki in 2023
Personal information
Full name鈴木 大地
NationalityJapanese
Born (1967-03-10) March 10, 1967
Narashino, Chiba
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight68 kg (150 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke
College teamJuntendo University
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1988 Seoul 100 m backstroke
Pan Pacific Championships
Silver medal – second place 1987 Brisbane 100 m backstroke
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1987 Zagreb 100 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 1987 Zagreb 200 m backstroke
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1986 Seoul 100 m backstroke
Gold medal – first place 1986 Seoul 4×100 m medley

Swimming

Suzuki developed the swimming technique called underwater dolphin kick or what is known as the Berkoff Blastoff in the United States.[1] This style in backstroke swimming was invented by either David Berkoff or Jesse Vasallo.[1] However, it was Suzuki who finally developed the skill, allowing him to swim 25 meters underwater at the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. Four years later, he won the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke at the 1988 Seoul Olympics where Berkoff also competed.[2]   

Career

In 2013, Daichi was the head of the Japan Swimming Federation. On September 5, 2015, it was confirmed that he would take up a new position as head of Japan's new national sports agency, which was launched on October 1, 2015.[3] The new organization, which is called Japan Sports Agency,[4] is an Incorporated Administrative Agency or similar of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Its primary role is the coordination of a wide range of sports related functions and projects carried out by various government ministries.[5] Specifically, the 121-person agency is tasked to improve Japan's athletic performance in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.[4]

On April 5, 2021, The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) announced that Daichi Suzuki will be inducted into the ISHOF Class of 2021 as an "Honor Swimmer".[6] [7] In fact, Daichi Suzuki was announced by ISHOF that he would have been inducted into the ISHOF Class of 2020 in 2019, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 induction was postponed to 2021.[8] [9]

On May 9, 2023, Asian University Sports Federation selected Daichi Suzuki as one of the Assessors.[10]

Educational background

References
  1. Keller-Marvin, Meg (December 11, 2019). "Japanese Swimmer Daichi Suzuki To Be Inducted Into International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2020". Swimming World News. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  2. Serowik, Lauren (December 4, 2019). "Swimming World Presents "Takeoff to Tokyo: When Backstroke Went Rogue - The Story of Daichi Suzuki and the 1988 Seoul Olympics""". Swimming World News. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  3. "Suzuki to be 1st head of sports agency". The Yomiuri Shimbun. Japan. September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  4. Robertson, James (October 4, 2015). "Japan Creates Sports Agency To Improve Their Athlete's Performance For The 2020 Tokyo Olympics". www.sporttechie.com. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
  5. "Diet OKs creation of national sports agency ahead of 2020 Olympics". The Japan Times. Japan. May 13, 2015. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  6. Keller-Marvin, Meg (April 5, 2021). "International Swimming Hall of Fame Re-Announces 2021 Induction Class and Annual Ceremony". Swimming World.
  7. Keller-Marvin, Meg (April 21, 2021). "Japanese Swimmer Daichi Suzuki To Be Inducted Into International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2021". Swimming World.
  8. Braden, Keith (October 16, 2019). "INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 13-MEMBER CLASS OF 2020". SwimSwam.
  9. Braden, Keith (April 25, 2020). "Why Aren't You At The International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Induction?". Swimming World.
  10. "12th ordinary AUSF General Assembly concluded successfully". Asian University Sports Federation. May 9, 2023.
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