Masaharu Taguchi

{{Short description|Japanese swimmer (1916–1982)}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name =

| image = Masanori Yusa, Masaharu Taguchi 1936.jpg

| image_size = 260px

| caption = Masanori Yusa and Masaharu Taguchi (right) at the 1936 Olympics

| birth_date = January 9, 1916

| birth_place = Kyoto Prefecture, Japan

| death_date = June 29, 1982 (aged 66)

| death_place =

| height =

| weight =

| sport = Swimming

| club =

| alma_mater = Rikkyo University

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{JPN}} }}

{{MedalCompetition|Olympics}}

{{MedalGold| 1936 Berlin | 4×200 m freestyle relay}}

}}

{{nihongo|Masaharu Taguchi|田口 正治|Taguchi Masaharu|extra=January 9, 1916 – June 29, 1982}} was a Japanese freestyle swimmer. At the 1936 Olympics, he won a gold medal in the 4 × 200 m relay, setting a new world record. In the individual 100 m race, he finished almost simultaneously with Masanori Yusa and Shigeo Arai and was placed fourth, although photographs suggest he was second.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ta/masaharu-taguchi-1.html |title=Masaharu Taguchi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417212917/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ta/masaharu-taguchi-1.html |archive-date=2020-04-17}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20200417165716/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1936/SWI/mens-100-metres-freestyle.html Swimming at the 1936 Berlin Summer Games: Men's 100 metres Freestyle]. sports-reference.com

Taguchi graduated from Rikkyo University, later worked at a Daimaru department store and coached swimming at a local Daimaru swimming club. He was recruited 1961 to prepare the national swimming team for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.[http://www.swim.or.jp/magazine/download/161163.pdf オリンピック東京大会 水泳日本代表選手団]. 月刊水泳 第161～163号. Japan Swimming Federation