Daichi Suzuki
Encyclopedia
is a retired Japanese
backstroke
swimmer. He won a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
.
In the early 1980s, Suzuki was a budding high school swimmer in his native country. A national champion backstroke
r looking to further his career at the international level, he learned about the submarine dolphin kick
Jesse Vassallo
, one of the top backstoker in the late 1970s was performing, and realized he could implement the same technique during his race. Suzuki combined his creativity and audacity together with sprinkling suggestions provided by Vassallo
, and began work on developing a backstroke start that would cover the first 25m entirely underwater.
At the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles, California
, Suzuki unveiled the new underwater tactic. He proved to be the fastest in the world for the first 25 m, but it did not draw much attention as he barely ranked in the top 25 worldwide and was unsuccessful in making the finals in 100 m backstroke. Some criticized his tactic as silly leaving the swimmer in oxygen debt, causing the swimmer to fall off in the latter part of the race.
By 1986, Suzuki was one of the top ten 100 m backstrokers in the world. At the 1987 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
, he blasted out to a lead with his underwater dolphin kicks in the 100 m backstroke but faded to a third place finish. While his underwater dolphin kick strategy was beginning to draw more attention as a viable strategic tool, it had its share of doubters.
One believer of the underwater dolphin kick included David Berkoff
of the United States
. He combined thirty miles of running each week with rigorous pool workouts to develop his underwater dolphin kicks. Berkoff was planning on extending his dolphin kick to 35 m from the start and 15 m from the turn. At the American Olympic Trials in 1988, Berkoff broke the world record in 100 m backstroke being underwater for the first 35 m and 15 m from the turn, exactly half the racing distance.
Berkoff was the leading contender to win gold medal during 100 m backstroke at the 1988 Summer Olympics
, and then earned a prohibitive favorite after re-setting the world record
in the prelims. In the finals, everyone was focused on how much Berkoff would beat his world record due to his underwater dolphin kick. However, in a major upset, Berkoff was beaten and Suzuki won the gold medal.
Suzuki, who four years prior introduced the underwater dolphin kicks to the world by being submerged for 25 m, won the race by matching Berkoff underwater implementing his "Vasallo
kicks" for 35 m, 10 m beyond his normal underwater distance, for the only time in his career. Since Suzuki and Beroff's tale was broadcasted around the globe, the floodgates were open and the swimmers around the world rushed to apply the same underwater strategy during their races.
At the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
, Spain
, Mark Tewksbury
of Canada
, who five years prior stated his dislike for swimming underwaters won the gold medal in 100 m backstroke by implementing the same underwater dolphin kick for 25 m from the start and 15 m from the turn.
The theoretical principle was quite simple. If the speed generated through the underwater dolphin kick
is faster than the speed generated during a backstroke lap on the surface of the water, the underwater dolphin kick would become the standard and preferred method of swimming this race – assuming the swimmer had the lung capacity to hold his/her breath. It did not take long for some swimmers to catch on. Soon other swimmers would improve their swimming and swimming backstroke soon became faster than swimming butterfly.
After his retirement, Suzuki studied at Juntendo University Graduate School where he earned his Ph.D in researches and analysis of water exercise, lifestyle, habit and health conditions. Suzuki is the second Japanese Olympic
gold medalist that earned a Ph.D.
Regarding his international experiences, he was sent by his school as a visiting researcher
to the University of Colorado at Boulder
, and then again was also dispatched to Harvard University
varsity
swim team as a guest coach by the Japanese Olympic Committee
(JOC) before he went back to Juntendo University Graduate School.
He is currently a head coach of the varsity swimming team of his school. He also is a committee member of the JOC Athlete Committee, a committee member of the Competitive Swimming Committee, Japan Swimming Federation
, and executive member of the World Olympians Association
(WOA), and executive member of Japan Olympians Association, and a board member of the Japan Anti-Doping Agency, and a committee member of the World Anti-Doping Agency
Athlete Committee.
In 2009, he was elected as a board member of Japan Swimming Federation
to be in charge of open water swimming
, lifelong sports, and traditional Japanese swim methods.
He often appears on nation-wide TV and radio programs in Japan
as a commentator for sports. He has also published several books about swimming
, sports science
, and health
.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
swimmer. He won a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
.
In the early 1980s, Suzuki was a budding high school swimmer in his native country. A national champion backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
r looking to further his career at the international level, he learned about the submarine dolphin kick
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
Jesse Vassallo
Jesse Vassallo
Jesse Vassallo , is a Puerto Rican Olympic and World Record holding swimmer. He swam in international competitions for the United States and qualified for two-Olympic teams: 1980 and 1984. In 1997, he became the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame...
, one of the top backstoker in the late 1970s was performing, and realized he could implement the same technique during his race. Suzuki combined his creativity and audacity together with sprinkling suggestions provided by Vassallo
Jesse Vassallo
Jesse Vassallo , is a Puerto Rican Olympic and World Record holding swimmer. He swam in international competitions for the United States and qualified for two-Olympic teams: 1980 and 1984. In 1997, he became the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame...
, and began work on developing a backstroke start that would cover the first 25m entirely underwater.
At the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Suzuki unveiled the new underwater tactic. He proved to be the fastest in the world for the first 25 m, but it did not draw much attention as he barely ranked in the top 25 worldwide and was unsuccessful in making the finals in 100 m backstroke. Some criticized his tactic as silly leaving the swimmer in oxygen debt, causing the swimmer to fall off in the latter part of the race.
By 1986, Suzuki was one of the top ten 100 m backstrokers in the world. At the 1987 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
1987 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
The second edition of the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, a long course event, was held in 1987 in Brisbane, Australia, from August 13–16.-Men's events:-Women's events:-External links:*...
, he blasted out to a lead with his underwater dolphin kicks in the 100 m backstroke but faded to a third place finish. While his underwater dolphin kick strategy was beginning to draw more attention as a viable strategic tool, it had its share of doubters.
One believer of the underwater dolphin kick included David Berkoff
David Berkoff
David Charles Berkoff is a former backstroke swimmer from the United States, who won a total number of four Olympic medals during his career. He is best known for his powerful underwater start, the eponymous "Berkoff Blastoff"...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He combined thirty miles of running each week with rigorous pool workouts to develop his underwater dolphin kicks. Berkoff was planning on extending his dolphin kick to 35 m from the start and 15 m from the turn. At the American Olympic Trials in 1988, Berkoff broke the world record in 100 m backstroke being underwater for the first 35 m and 15 m from the turn, exactly half the racing distance.
Berkoff was the leading contender to win gold medal during 100 m backstroke at the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, and then earned a prohibitive favorite after re-setting the world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
in the prelims. In the finals, everyone was focused on how much Berkoff would beat his world record due to his underwater dolphin kick. However, in a major upset, Berkoff was beaten and Suzuki won the gold medal.
Suzuki, who four years prior introduced the underwater dolphin kicks to the world by being submerged for 25 m, won the race by matching Berkoff underwater implementing his "Vasallo
Jesse Vassallo
Jesse Vassallo , is a Puerto Rican Olympic and World Record holding swimmer. He swam in international competitions for the United States and qualified for two-Olympic teams: 1980 and 1984. In 1997, he became the first Puerto Rican to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame...
kicks" for 35 m, 10 m beyond his normal underwater distance, for the only time in his career. Since Suzuki and Beroff's tale was broadcasted around the globe, the floodgates were open and the swimmers around the world rushed to apply the same underwater strategy during their races.
At the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Mark Tewksbury
Mark Tewksbury
Mark Tewksbury, MSM is a Canadian former swimmer. He is best known for winning the gold medal in the 100 metres backstroke at the 1992 Summer Olympics...
of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, who five years prior stated his dislike for swimming underwaters won the gold medal in 100 m backstroke by implementing the same underwater dolphin kick for 25 m from the start and 15 m from the turn.
The theoretical principle was quite simple. If the speed generated through the underwater dolphin kick
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
is faster than the speed generated during a backstroke lap on the surface of the water, the underwater dolphin kick would become the standard and preferred method of swimming this race – assuming the swimmer had the lung capacity to hold his/her breath. It did not take long for some swimmers to catch on. Soon other swimmers would improve their swimming and swimming backstroke soon became faster than swimming butterfly.
After his retirement, Suzuki studied at Juntendo University Graduate School where he earned his Ph.D in researches and analysis of water exercise, lifestyle, habit and health conditions. Suzuki is the second Japanese Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medalist that earned a Ph.D.
Regarding his international experiences, he was sent by his school as a visiting researcher
Researcher
A researcher is somebody who performs research, the search for knowledge or in general any systematic investigation to establish facts. Researchers can work in academic, industrial, government, or private institutions.-Examples of research institutions:...
to the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, and then again was also dispatched to Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
varsity
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
swim team as a guest coach by the Japanese Olympic Committee
Japanese Olympic Committee
The Japanese Olympic Committee is the national Olympic committee in Japan for the Olympic Games movement, based in Tokyo, Japan...
(JOC) before he went back to Juntendo University Graduate School.
He is currently a head coach of the varsity swimming team of his school. He also is a committee member of the JOC Athlete Committee, a committee member of the Competitive Swimming Committee, Japan Swimming Federation
Japan Swimming Federation
The , founded in 1924, is the Swimming Federation in Japan.- Championships :*Japan Aquatics Championships**Japan Open *Japan SC Championships*Japan College Aquatics Championships*Japan High School Aquatics Championships...
, and executive member of the World Olympians Association
World Olympians Association
The World Olympians Association is an association of former olympic athletes from all over the world, to promote the dissemination of Olympic ideals, fair play, advance environmental protection, educate against doping – drug use, supply educational resources, work against violence and intolerance,...
(WOA), and executive member of Japan Olympians Association, and a board member of the Japan Anti-Doping Agency, and a committee member of the World Anti-Doping Agency
World Anti-Doping Agency
The World Anti-Doping Agency , , is an independent foundation created through a collective initiative led by the International Olympic Committee . It was set up on November 10, 1999 in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a result of what was called the "Declaration of Lausanne", to promote, coordinate and...
Athlete Committee.
In 2009, he was elected as a board member of Japan Swimming Federation
Japan Swimming Federation
The , founded in 1924, is the Swimming Federation in Japan.- Championships :*Japan Aquatics Championships**Japan Open *Japan SC Championships*Japan College Aquatics Championships*Japan High School Aquatics Championships...
to be in charge of open water swimming
Open water swimming
Open water swimming takes place in outdoor bodies of water such as open oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, canals, and reservoirs.The beginning of the modern age of open water swimming is sometimes taken to be May 3, 1810, when Lord Byron swam several miles to cross the Hellespont from Europe to Asia.In...
, lifelong sports, and traditional Japanese swim methods.
He often appears on nation-wide TV and radio programs in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as a commentator for sports. He has also published several books about swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, sports science
Sports science
Sport science is a discipline that studies the application of scientific principles and techniques with the aim of improving sporting performance...
, and health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
.