Biographical details | |
---|---|
Born | January 23, 1906 Lahaina, Maui County, Hawaii |
Died | August 2, 1997 Honolulu, Hawaii | (aged 91)
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1937 | "Three Year Swim Club" Maui, HI |
1946-1961 | University of Hawaii Honolulu |
1946-1981 | Hawaii Swim Club Honolulu |
1952-1956 | U.S. Olympic Swim Team Asst. Coach |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
1939-41 3 x AAU National Championships (Three year Swim Club) | |
Awards | |
1982 International Swim. Hall of Fame National Collegiate Schol. Swimming Trophy ASCA Hall of Fame U. of Hawaii Circle of Honor | |
Soichi Sakamoto (Japanese: 坂本 正一,[1] January 23, 1906 – August 2, 1997) was a Hall-of-Fame American swimming coach for the Hawaii Swim Club from 1946 through 1981,[2] the University of Hawaii from 1946 through 1961 and the U.S. Olympic team in 1952 and 1956. He pioneered the use of interval and resistance training for competitive swimmers, methods that have now become standard throughout the sport. He coached several national champions and five Olympic medalists that included Bill Woolsey, Thelma Kalama, Evelyn Kawamoto, Bill Smith, and Burwell Jones.[3][4][5][6][7]