By Hideki Mochizuki, Swimming World Japanese correspondent
ROME, Italy, August 2. FORMER president of the Japanese Swimming Federation and also the Japan Olympic Committee, Hironoshin Furuhashi passed away in Rome, Italy during the FINA World Championships. Furuhashi was 80 years old.
FINA and the Japan Swimming Federation plan to hold press conference in the afternoon of August 2 on details. Furuhashi marked an unapproved world record in men's 400 free in 1947. In 1948, he set world records in the 400 and 1500m free. Also in 1949, at U.S. Nationals, he renewed the 1500m world record.
At that time, he was nicknamed by media, Flying Fish of Fujiyama (Mt. Fuji). By the time he retired, he renewed the world record 33 times. He became president of the Japanese Swimming Federation in 1985, and also became head of the Japan Olympic Committee in 1990 where he presided for 9 years or 5 terms.
Furuhashi was born September 16, 1928. His person best were 2:07.6 (200m free), 4:33.0 (400m free) and 18:19.0 (1500m free).