Daichi Suzuki

{{Infobox swimmer

| name = Daichi Suzuki

| image = Daichi Suzuki.jpg

| caption = Daichi Suzuki in 2023

| fullname = 鈴木大地

| nationality = Japanese

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|3|10}}

| birth_place = Narashino, Chiba

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{convert|1.80|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|68|kg|lb}}

| strokes = Backstroke

| collegeteam = Juntendo University

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country|{{JPN}}}}

File:Olympic rings.svg

}}

{{Nihongo|Daichi Suzuki|鈴木大地|Suzuki Daichi}} (born March 10, 1967, in Narashino, Chiba) is a retired Japanese 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/japanese-swimmer-daichi-suzuki-to-be-inducted-into-the-international-swimming-hall-of-fame-as-part-of-class-of-2020/ |title=Japanese Swimmer Daichi Suzuki To Be Inducted Into International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2020 |last=Keller-Marvin |first=Meg |date=December 11, 2019 |website=Swimming World News |language=en-US |access-date=January 21, 2020 |archive-date=January 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130143922/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/japanese-swimmer-daichi-suzuki-to-be-inducted-into-the-international-swimming-hall-of-fame-as-part-of-class-of-2020/ |url-status=dead }} This style in backstroke swimming was invented by either David Berkoff or Jesse Vasallo. 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/swimming-world-presents-takeoff-to-tokyo-when-backstroke-went-rogue-the-story-of-daichi-suzuki-and-the-1988-seoul-olympics/ |title=Swimming World Presents "Takeoff to Tokyo: When Backstroke Went Rogue - The Story of Daichi Suzuki and the 1988 Seoul Olympics"" |last=Serowik |first=Lauren |date=December 4, 2019 |website=Swimming World News |language=en-US |access-date=January 21, 2020}}

Career

In 2013, Daichi was the head of the Japan Swimming Federation. On September 5, 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 October 1, 2015.{{cite news |author= |title=Suzuki to be 1st head of sports agency |url=http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002404658 |newspaper=The Yomiuri Shimbun |location=Japan |date=September 5, 2015 |access-date=September 6, 2015}} The new organization, which is called Japan Sports Agency,{{Cite web |url=https://www.sporttechie.com/japan-creates-sports-agency-improve-athletes-performance-2020-tokyo-olympics/ |title=Japan Creates Sports Agency To Improve Their Athlete's Performance For The 2020 Tokyo Olympics |last=Robertson |first=James |date=October 4, 2015 |website=www.sporttechie.com |language=en |access-date=January 21, 2020}} 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.{{cite news |author= |title=Diet OKs creation of national sports agency ahead of 2020 Olympics |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2015/05/13/national/diet-oks-creation-national-sports-agency-ahead-2020-olympics/ |newspaper=The Japan Times |location=Japan |date=May 13, 2015 |access-date=September 6, 2015}} Specifically, the 121-person agency is tasked to improve Japan's athletic performance in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

In October 2016, he became vice president of Asia Aquatics. In July 2017, he was elected Bureau Member of the World Aquatics.

On April 5, 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".{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/international-swimming-hall-of-fame-announces-2020-induction-class-and-annual-ceremony-2/ |title=International Swimming Hall of Fame Re-Announces 2021 Induction Class and Annual Ceremony |last=Keller-Marvin |first=Meg |date=April 5, 2021 |magazine=Swimming World}}

{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/japanese-swimmer-daichi-suzuki-to-be-inducted-into-the-international-swimming-hall-of-fame-as-part-of-class-of-2020/ |title=Japanese Swimmer Daichi Suzuki To Be Inducted Into International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2021 |last=Keller-Marvin |first=Meg |date=April 21, 2021 |magazine=Swimming World |access-date=January 21, 2020 |archive-date=January 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130143922/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/japanese-swimmer-daichi-suzuki-to-be-inducted-into-the-international-swimming-hall-of-fame-as-part-of-class-of-2020/ |url-status=dead }} 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.{{Cite magazine |url=https://swimswam.com/international-swimming-hall-of-fame-announces-13-member-class-of-2020/ |title=INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 13-MEMBER CLASS OF 2020 |last=Braden |first=Keith |date=October 16, 2019 |magazine=SwimSwam}}

{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/why-arent-you-at-the-international-swimming-hall-of-fame-class-of-2020-induction/ |title=Why Aren't You At The International Swimming Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Induction? |last=Braden |first=Keith |date=April 25, 2020 |magazine=Swimming World}}

On May 9, 2023, Asian University Sports Federation selected Daichi Suzuki as one of the Assessors.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ausf.org/Detail.aspx?kind=2&pk=478&fbclid=IwAR26NqM2UhoR2OU5kQd7iAoJeA0T6ENxnuedM_fffB_-Jy14MsJgC4Bmm8M |title=12th ordinary AUSF General Assembly concluded successfully |date=May 9, 2023 |publisher=Asian University Sports Federation}}

On November 18, 2023, the International University Sports Federation selected Daichi Suzuki as one of the FISU Executive Committee Members.{{Cite web |url=https://www.fisu.net/news/meetings/leonz-eder-unanimously-elected-fisu-president-at-38th-general-assembly |title=Leonz Eder unanimously elected FISU President at 38th General Assembly|date=November 18, 2023 |publisher=International University Sports Federation}}

Educational background

Ph.D in medicine, Juntendo University

References

{{databaseOlympics|SUZUKDAI01|archive=20130119164216}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928033820/http://www.hawaiiswimforum.com/goldcollections/strokecheck/advanced2.pdf Hawaii Swim Forum – Race Strategy]
{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/su/daichi-suzuki-1.html |title=Daichi Suzuki |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205220049/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/su/daichi-suzuki-1.html |archive-date=February 5, 2013}}