Yoshi Oyakawa

Yoshinobu Oyakawa (Japanese: 親川 義信,[1] born August 9, 1933) is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in the 100-meter backstroke. Oyakawa is considered to be the last of the great "straight-arm-pull" backstrokers and still holds the world record in this technique.

Yoshi Oyakawa
Yoshi Oyakawa at the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial near Kaimana Beach
Personal information
Full nameYoshinobu Oyakawa
Nickname(s)"Yoshi"
National teamUnited States
Born (1933-08-09) August 9, 1933
Kona, Hawaii, U.S.
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight154 lb (70 kg)
Sport
SportSwimming
StrokesBackstroke
ClubHawaii Swim Club
College teamOhio State University
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1952 Helsinki 100 m backstroke

Biography

Oyakawa was born in Kona, Hawaii to the Rev. and Mrs. Edward Oyakawa and raised in Papaikou.[2] He has an older sister, Dorothy, and an older brother, Ensie Michio.[2]

Career

College

Oyakawa attended Ohio State University, where he won six Big Ten, seven NCAA, and nine NAAU championships.

Olympics

Oyakawa represented the United States at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, where he won the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke event.[3]

He returned to Olympic competition at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, where he was elected co-captain along with Ford Konno.[4] He finished 8th in the 100-meter backstroke competition.[5]

Coaching

Oyakawa became a teacher and coached swimming at Oak Hills High School from 1960 to 1985.[6] He led Oak Hills to 23 conference championships and was named League Coach of the Year 23 times and Southwest Ohio Swimming Coach of the Year 12 times.[7]

Honors

See also

References
  2. Luna, Martha (January 16, 1956). "Oyakawa Will Be Bidding for Olympic Win Again". Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
  3. Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Athletes, Yoshi Oyakawa. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  4. "Oyakawa, Yoshinobu | Hawaiʻi Sports Hall of Fame". www.hawaiisportshalloffame.com. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  5. "Yoshi Oyakawa, 1973 ISHOF Honor Swimmer". U.S. Masters Swimming. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  6. "Hawaii Swimming Legacy: Yoshinobu Oyakawa". Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  7. "Oak Hills Athletic Hall of Fame Information, 2005-2015" (PDF). Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  8. "Oyakawa Day Scheduled by Hiloites Today". The Honolulu Advertiser. September 12, 1952.
  9. "Yoshi Oyakawa (USA)". ISHOF.org. International Swimming Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on February 3, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  10. "tBBC - Ten questions With Yoshi Oyakawa". BuckeyePlanet. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  11. "Gold-en Days of Summer Olympics past: Part 2". From Woody's Couch. August 2, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  12. "Inductees by Class Year | Hawaiʻi Sports Hall of Fame". www.hawaiisportshalloffame.com. Retrieved February 19, 2018.




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