Daichi Suzuki
Daichi Suzuki | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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鈴木 大地 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Official portrait, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the House of Councillors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 29 July 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Tamayo Marukawa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Constituency | Tokyo at-large | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1 October 2015 – 30 September 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Shinzo Abe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Office established | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Koji Murofushi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 10 March 1967 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sports career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 68 kg (150 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Swimming | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Strokes | Backstroke | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College team | Juntendo University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Daichi Suzuki (鈴木 大地, Suzuki Daichi; born 10 March 1967, in Narashino, Chiba) is a Japanese politician and retired backstroke swimmer. He won a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Japan's First Chief Commissioner of Sports Agency (2015–2020). Chair of Japan Swimming Federation (2013–2015, 2021–). Vice President of Asia Aquatics (2016–). Bureau Member of World Aquatics (2017–). Professor and Associate Dean, Faculty of Health and Sports Science at Juntendo University.
Swimming
Suzuki developed the swimming technique called underwater dolphin kick or what is known as the Berkoff Blastoff in the United States.[1] This style in backstroke swimming was invented by either David Berkoff or Jesse Vasallo.[1] However, it was Suzuki who finally developed the skill, allowing him to swim 25 meters underwater at the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles. Four years later, he won the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke at the 1988 Seoul Olympics where Berkoff also competed.[2]
Career
In 2013, Daichi was the head of the Japan Swimming Federation. On 5 September 2015, it was confirmed that he would take up a new position as head of Japan's new national sports agency, which was launched on 1 October 2015.[3] The new organization, which is called Japan Sports Agency,[4] is an Incorporated Administrative Agency or similar of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Its primary role is coordinating a wide range of sports-related functions and projects carried out by various government ministries.[5] Specifically, the 121-person agency is tasked to improve Japan's athletic performance in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.[4]
In October 2016, he became vice president of Asia Aquatics. In July 2017, he was elected Bureau Member of the World Aquatics.
On 5 April 2021, The International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) announced that Daichi Suzuki would be inducted into the ISHOF Class of 2021 as an "Honor Swimmer".[6] [7] In fact, Daichi Suzuki was announced by ISHOF that he would have been inducted into the ISHOF Class of 2020 in 2019, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 induction was postponed to 2021.[8] [9]
On 9 May 2023, Asian University Sports Federation selected Daichi Suzuki as one of the Assessors.[10]
On 18 November 2023, the International University Sports Federation selected Daichi Suzuki as one of the FISU Executive Committee Members.[11]
Educational background
- Ph.D in medicine, Juntendo University
References
- ^ a b Keller-Marvin, Meg (11 December 2019). "Japanese Swimmer Daichi Suzuki To Be Inducted Into International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2020". Swimming World News. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- ^ Serowik, Lauren (4 December 2019). "Swimming World Presents "Takeoff to Tokyo: When Backstroke Went Rogue - The Story of Daichi Suzuki and the 1988 Seoul Olympics""". Swimming World News. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- ^ "Suzuki to be 1st head of sports agency". The Yomiuri Shimbun. Japan. 5 September 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ a b Robertson, James (4 October 2015). "Japan Creates Sports Agency To Improve Their Athlete's Performance For The 2020 Tokyo Olympics". www.sporttechie.com. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- ^ "Diet OKs creation of national sports agency ahead of 2020 Olympics". The Japan Times. Japan. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
- ^ Keller-Marvin, Meg (5 April 2021). "International Swimming Hall of Fame Re-Announces 2021 Induction Class and Annual Ceremony". Swimming World.
- ^ Keller-Marvin, Meg (21 April 2021). "Japanese Swimmer Daichi Suzuki To Be Inducted Into International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2021". Swimming World. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- ^ Braden, Keith (16 October 2019). "INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 13-MEMBER CLASS OF 2020". SwimSwam.
- ^ Braden, Keith (25 April 2020). "Why Aren't You At The International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Induction?". Swimming World.
- ^ "12th ordinary AUSF General Assembly concluded successfully". Asian University Sports Federation. 9 May 2023.
- ^ "Leonz Eder unanimously elected FISU President at 38th General Assembly". International University Sports Federation. 18 November 2023.
- Daichi Suzuki at databaseOlympics.com (archived)
- Hawaii Swim Forum – Race Strategy
- Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Daichi Suzuki". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013.