Japan ruled the Olympic pool in the 1930s during a period known as the Golden Age of Japanese Swimming. From their very first Olympic appearance at the Belgium Games in 1920, until the late-1940’s, Japan was the global leader in the sport of swimming.
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JAPAN’S BREAKOUT OLYMPICS
At the L.A. Olympic Games in 1932, Japanese male swimmers placed first and second in four of the five individual events—and in that fifth event (the 400 free), they placed third, fourth and fifth! With five gold medals, four silver and two bronze, Japan scored 86 points compared to 33 for the Americans, and won 11 of the 18 medals offered in the six swimming events.
This result was not because the American team was weaker than in previous years. Rather, the Japanese men broke every Olympic record except the 100 backstroke—an event in which they won all three medals! They also smashed Hungary’s year-old world record in the 800 freestyle relay by 35.6 seconds with an 8:58.4—12 seconds ahead of the runner-up Americans and the first team ever to break nine minutes!
Hironoshin Furuhashi Photo Courtesy: ISHOF
JAPAN’S LAST HURRAH
In 1949, the Swimming Committee of the Amateur Athletic Union invited Japan to send a club team to participate in the AAU Nationals in Los Angeles. Swimming in the L.A. Olympic pool and led by Hironoshin Furuhashi—“the Flying Fish of Fujiyama”—the Japanese men bettered 15 American and world records in what the Los Angeles Times called “the greatest meet in the history of the sport.”
Read more about how Japan ruled the Olympic pool and how the country has evolved by downloading the current issue of Swimming World Magazine from the Swimming World Vault.
Photo Courtesy: PHOTO BY SIMONE RIVI, PROVIDED BY JAKED
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Swimming World Magazine April 2020 Issue
FEATURES
014 2019 TOP 12 WORLD MASTERS SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR
by Dan D’Addona, David Rieder and Taylor Brien
022 FOR LOVE OF THE SPORT
by Andy Ross
There is no denying that Federica Pellegrini is the greatest 200 freestyler in history. What makes her illustrious career so special is her approach to swimming—she’s simply doing what she loves.
024 TAKEOFF TO TOKYO: SWIMMING’S FIRST FEMALE SUPERSTAR
by John Lohn
When the Olympic Games return to Tokyo this summer, one of the highlights will be a swimming schedule that is identical for men and women, the 1500 freestyle added for the ladies and the 800 freestyle added to the program for the gentlemen. But the first four editions of swimming at the Modern Olympics did not feature equality, with women not involved until 1912—at which point Fanny Durack made a major splash.
026 ISHOF: WHEN JAPAN RULED THE POOL
by Bruce Wigo
Japan’s men dominated world swimming in the 1930s, a period known as the Golden Age of Japanese Swimming.
030 THE OLYMPIC EFFECT
by Michael Randazzo
The upcoming Tokyo Olympics has shuffled the deck for the 2020 NCAA women’s water polo season.
032 MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH CLAIRE DONAHUE
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COACHING
008 LESSONS WITH THE LEGENDS: GLEN HUMMER
by Michael J. Stott
012 SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: THE VALUE OF HAND FORCE ANALYSIS: PART I—BUTTERFLY
by Rod Havriluk
While information provided by underwater video alone can be useful, it doesn’t provide a quantitative measure of specific movements. A force analysis gives swimmers and coaches accurate and precise information so they can be absolutely certain of the impact of specific technique elements on performance.
034 ALL HAIL TO ALMA MATER!
by Michael J. Stott
Alumni support positively affects college swimming and diving teams across the country.
036 SPECIAL SETS: TRANSITION TRAINING
by Michael J. Stott
Frank Busch shares how he trained his NCAA national champion University of Arizona athletes in 2008 between NCAAs to the U.S. Olympic Trials.
042 Q&A WITH COACH MIKE LEONARD
by Michael J. Stott
043 HOW THEY TRAIN LUKE PAXTON AND OWEN TAYLOR
by Michael J. Stott
TRAINING
011 DRYSIDE TRAINING: STROKE STRENGTH SERIES—BREASTSTROKE
by J.R. Rosania
JUNIOR SWIMMER
039 GOLDMINDS: BELIEVING IN YOURSELF
by Wayne Goldsmith
Here is a team-based approach to helping swimmers develop the quality of confidence.
045 UP & COMERS: KATIE CROM
by Shoshanna Rutemiller
COLUMNS
006 A VOICE FOR THE SPORT
007 BEYOND THE YARDS
038 MOMS AT MEETS
046 GUTTERTALK
047 PARTING SHOT
Before goggles and friction reducing fabrics.