Yoshi Oyakawa

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.

Yoshi Oyakawa

Yoshi Oyakawa at the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial near Kaimana Beach
Personal information
Full name	Yoshinobu Oyakawa
Nickname(s)	"Yoshi"
National team	United States
Born	(1933-08-09) August 9, 1933 Kona, Hawaii, U.S.
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight	154 lb (70 kg)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Backstroke
Club	Hawaii Swim Club
College team	Ohio State University
Medal record Men's swimming Representing the United States Olympic Games 1952 Helsinki 100 m backstroke

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 the 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 also 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

• Yoshinobu Oyakawa Day proclaimed by Big Island County Chairman James Kealoha on September 12, 1952 [7]
• International Swimming Hall of Fame,1973[8]
• Ohio High School Coach of the Year, 1972[9]
• The Ohio State University Athletics Hall of Fame, 1978[10]
• Hawaiʻi Sports Hall of Fame, 1998[11]
• Oak Hills Athletic Hall of Fame, 2008[6]

See also

• List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame
• List of Ohio State University people
• List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men)

References

1. 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. 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

• Yoshi Oyakawa at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
• Yoshi Oyakawa (USA) – Honor Swimmer profile at International Swimming Hall of Fame

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