Yoshi Oyakawa

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Yoshi Oyakawa
Yoshi Oyakawa at the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial near Kaimana Beach.jpg
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 (age 88)
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

Yoshinobu Oyakawa (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.

Biography[]

Oyakawa was born in Kona, Hawaii to the Rev. and Mrs. Edward Oyakawa and raised in Papaikou.[1] He has an older sister, Dorothy, and an older brother, Ensie Michio.[1]

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.[2]

He returned to Olympic competition at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, where he was elected co-captain along with Ford Konno.[3] He finished 8th in the 100-meter backstroke competition.[4]

Coaching[]

Oyakawa became a teacher and coached swimming at Oak Hills High School from 1960 to 1985.[5] 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.[6]

Honors[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Luna, Martha (January 16, 1956). "Oyakawa Will Be Bidding for Olympic Win Again". Hawaii Tribune-Herald.
  2. ^ Sports-Reference.com, Olympic Sports, Athletes, Yoshi Oyakawa. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  3. ^ "Oyakawa, Yoshinobu | Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame". www.hawaiisportshalloffame.com. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  4. ^ "Yoshi Oyakawa, 1973 ISHOF Honor Swimmer". U.S. Masters Swimming. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  5. ^ "Hawaii Swimming Legacy: Yoshinobu Oyakawa". Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  6. ^ a b Oak Hills High School. "Oak Hills Athletic Hall of Fame Information, 2005-2015" (PDF). Retrieved February 18, 2018.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  7. ^ "Oyakawa Day Scheduled by Hiloites Today". The Honolulu Advertiser. September 12, 1952.
  8. ^ International Swimming Hall of Fame, Honorees, Yoshi Oyakawa (USA). Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  9. ^ "tBBC - Ten questions With Yoshi Oyakawa". BuckeyePlanet. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  10. ^ "Gold-en Days of Summer Olympics past: Part 2". From Woody's Couch. 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  11. ^ "Inductees by Class Year | Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame". www.hawaiisportshalloffame.com. Retrieved 2018-02-19.

External links[]


Records
Preceded by Men's 100-meter backstroke
world record-holder (long course)
April 1, 1954 – February 27, 1955 		Succeeded by


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