Yoshinobu Oyakawa (born August 9, 1933) is an American former competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder in the 100-meter backstroke. Oyakawa is considered to be the last of the great "straight-arm-pull" backstrokers and still holds the world record in this technique. Biography Oyakawa was born in Kona, Hawaii to the Rev. and Mrs. Edward Oyakawa and raised in Papaikou. He has an older sister, Dorothy, and an older brother, Ensie Michio. Career College Oyakawa attended Ohio State University, where he won six Big Ten, seven NCAA, and nine NAAU championships. Olympics Oyakawa represented the United States at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, where he won the gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke event. He returned to Olympic competition at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, where he was elected co-captain along with Ford Konno. He finished 8th in the 100-meter backstroke competition. Coaching Oyakawa became a teacher and coached swimming at Oak Hills High School from 1960 to 1985. He led Oak Hills to 23 conference championships and was named League Coach of the Year 23 times and Southwest Ohio Swimming Coach of the Year 12 times. Honors Yoshinobu Oyakawa Day proclaimed by Big Island County Chairman James Kealoha on September 12, 1952 International Swimming Hall of Fame, 1973 Ohio High School Coach of the Year, 1972 The Ohio State University Athletics Hall of Fame, 1978 Hawaiʻi Sports Hall of Fame, 1998 Oak Hills Athletic Hall of Fame, 2008 See also List of members of the International Swimming Hall of Fame List of Ohio State University people List of Olympic medalists in swimming (men) References External links 1933 births Living people American male backstroke swimmers American military personnel of Japanese descent Hawaii people of Japanese descent Hawaii people of Okinawan descent American sportspeople of Japanese descent World record setters in swimming Ohio State Buckeyes men's swimmers Olympic gold medalists for the United States in swimming Swimmers from Cincinnati Swimmers from Hawaii Swimmers at the 1952 Summer Olympics Swimmers at the 1956 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1952 Summer Olympics American swimming coaches American educators of Japanese descent 20th-century American people