Kentaro Kawatsu

Kentaro Kawatsu (河津憲太郎, Kawatsu Kentarō, September 26, 1914 March 23, 1970) was a Japanese swimmer who competed at the 1932 Summer Olympics.

Kentarō Kawatsu
Kentaro Kawatsu (left), Toshio Irie and Masaji Kiyokawa at the 1932 Olympics
Personal information
Native name河津憲太郎
NationalityJapanese
Born(1915-09-26)September 26, 1915
Hiroshima, Japan
DiedMarch 23, 1970(1970-03-23) (aged 54)
Sport
SportSwimming
Strokesbackstroke
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1932 Los Angeles 100 m backstroke

Kawatsu was a native of Hiroshima City, where his father was a physical education instructor at the predecessor of Hiroshima University. In 1930, while still in middle school, Kawatsu set a new Japan record of 33.2 seconds for the 50-meter backstroke. In 1932, while a student at Meiji University, he was selected for the Japanese Olympic team to the Los Angeles Olympics. The team took the gold, silver and bronze medals in the 100 meter backstroke event, with Kawatsu winning the bronze medal.[1]

He subsequently participated in the 1934 Far Eastern Games held in Manila.

Kawatsu committed suicide by burning himself to death on March 23, 1970.[1]

References

  1. Kentaro Kawatsu. sports-reference.com

Further reading

  • Lohn, John. Historical Dictionary of Competitive Swimming. Scarecrow Press, (2010). ISBN 0810867753
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