Daichi Suzuki

2.1. Birth and Early Life

Daichi Suzuki was born on March 10, 1967, in Narashino, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He began his swimming journey at the age of seven, in his second year of elementary school, joining the local Chiba Athletic Center Swimming School (CAC). His early talent was evident when he won a silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke at the National SC Tournament. During his junior high school years, he met coach Yoji Suzuki at the Central Sports club, who would continue to mentor him until his retirement from competitive swimming.

2.2. Academic Background

Suzuki attended Funabashi Municipal Funabashi High School, where he was also a student of Yoshihide Koide, a physical education teacher who later became a renowned athletics coach. While still in his third year of high school, Suzuki was selected to represent Japan at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. After graduating from high school in 1985, he enrolled in the Faculty of Physical Education (now the Faculty of Health and Sports Science) at Juntendo University.

He continued his academic pursuits after graduation, entering the Graduate School of Physical Education at Juntendo University in 1989 and completing his master's degree in physical education in 1993. From 1994, he served as a visiting researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder. Later, from 1998, he was dispatched by the Japanese Olympic Committee to serve as a guest coach for the Harvard University swim team.

In 2007, he obtained a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Faculty of Medicine at Juntendo University. His doctoral research focused on the lifestyle and health status of participants in health-related events, co-authored with Yasuo Shiraishi. Suzuki became the second Olympic gold medalist in Japan to be awarded a Doctor of Medicine degree, following Mitsuru Sato, who won gold in freestyle wrestling at the same Seoul Olympics.

3.1. Development of the Underwater Dolphin Kick (Basaro Technique)

Suzuki was a pioneer of the underwater dolphin kick, a revolutionary swimming technique that earned him the nickname "man with golden feet." In the United States, this technique was also known as the "Berkoff Blastoff," named after David Berkoff or possibly Jesse Vassallo, who were also early innovators of similar underwater strategies. Suzuki, however, refined and extensively developed this skill.

At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, he swam up to 82 ft ^{(25 m)} underwater using 21 kicks. By the time of the 1988 Seoul Olympics final, he extended his underwater dolphin kick to 98 ft ^{(30 m)}, using 27 kicks, pushing the boundaries of what was considered possible at the time.

Suzuki's effective use of deep-water underwater swimming led to significant rule changes in the sport. After his performance, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) introduced regulations limiting the underwater diving distance to 33 ft ^{(10 m)}. This was later revised to 41 ft ^{(12.5 m)} (totaling 82 ft ^{(25 m)} for start and turn) after Suzuki's retirement. Furthermore, quick turns were permitted in backstroke, leading to substantial record improvements in 100m and 200m backstroke events by the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Currently, the underwater distance is permitted up to 49 ft ^{(15 m)} (totaling 98 ft ^{(30 m)} for start and turn).

3.2. Major Competition Records

Suzuki's competitive career saw him achieve notable results across various international and national stages.
At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, during his high school years, he finished 11th in the 100m backstroke, 16th in the 200m backstroke, and the 400m medley relay team was disqualified in the final.
In 1986, at the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul, he won gold medals in both the 100m backstroke and the 4×100m medley relay. The following year, in 1987, he secured gold medals in the 100m and 200m backstroke events at the 1987 Summer Universiade in Zagreb. As the lead-off swimmer in the 400m medley relay at the Universiade, he set the world's best record for 100m backstroke in 1987.
In 1987, he also earned a silver medal in the 100m backstroke at the 1987 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Brisbane.
Although he did not set any official world records during his career, Suzuki did achieve the world's best times in the short course 50m backstroke (which was not yet an official event) twice at the FINA Swimming World Cup. He also demonstrated versatility by winning the 100m freestyle at the 1988 Japan National Swimming Championships (also an Olympic qualifier) with a time of 52.35 seconds, and held Japanese records in the short course 50m butterfly and 200m individual medley.

3.3. 1988 Seoul Olympics Gold Medal

Suzuki's most significant achievement came at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. He won the gold medal in the men's 100-meter backstroke, a monumental victory that marked Japan's first swimming gold medal in 16 years since the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. The final race was a tight contest involving world record holder David Berkoff of the United States, who had led the preliminaries, and former world record holder Igor Polyansky of the Soviet Union, the 200m gold medalist, who was second in the preliminaries. All three competitors utilized the Basaro Technique. Suzuki executed a perfect finish, touching the wall with a recovery just above the water's surface, beating Berkoff by a narrow 0.13 seconds margin.

His gold medal was only the second for a Japanese swimmer in the men's 100m backstroke, following Shigeo Kiyokawa's victory at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In a memorable moment, Kiyokawa, who was then an IOC member, presented Suzuki with his medal during the awards ceremony. The Japanese national record of 55.05 seconds set by Suzuki in this final remained unbroken for 15 years, despite numerous subsequent rule changes, becoming a formidable benchmark for Japanese swimmers. At the Seoul Olympics, he also placed 15th in the 200m backstroke and 5th in the 400m medley relay.

3.4. Impact on Japanese Swimming

Daichi Suzuki's gold medal at the Seoul Olympics had a profound and revitalizing impact on Japanese swimming, which had been facing a challenging period. From the 1960s to the 1980s, while international swimming saw significant record progressions, Japanese swimming struggled, partly due to new international rules, such as the prohibition of underwater breaststroke swimming. Despite the presence of world-class swimmers like Shigehiro Takahashi and Hiroko Nagasaki in breaststroke, Olympic medals remained elusive, and Japan, once a swimming powerhouse, entered a "winter era" of prolonged stagnation.

Suzuki's unexpected gold medal, against pessimistic predictions, ended a 16-year medal drought for Japan's swimming team. His victory was described as a "great accomplishment" and served as a major catalyst for the revival of Japanese competitive swimming. Hironoshin Furuhashi, then President of the Japan Swimming Federation, was reportedly moved to tears by Suzuki's achievement, expressing his desire to "revive Japanese swimming once more." This moment injected much-needed hope and motivation into the sport in Japan. Suzuki received numerous accolades, including the Japan Sports Award, for his achievement.

4.1. Academic and Coaching Activities

After completing his graduate studies at Juntendo University in 1993, Suzuki spent time as a visiting researcher at the University of Colorado Boulder from 1994. From 1998, he served as a guest coach for the Harvard University swim team, dispatched by the Japanese Olympic Committee.

In March 2000, he returned to Japan, becoming a lecturer at his alma mater, Juntendo University, and taking on the role of head coach for the university's swimming team. Under his guidance, Juntendo University's Sho Higashi won the Japan Open Water Swim, making Suzuki a national champion coach. In 2006, he was promoted to Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health and Sports Science at Juntendo University. The following year, in 2007, he was awarded a Doctor of Medicine degree from the university's Faculty of Medicine for his research on health-related lifestyles, co-authored with Yasuo Shiraishi.

In 2013, he became a Professor in the Coaching Science Course, Department of Sports Science, Faculty of Health and Sports Science at Juntendo University. Concurrently, he stepped down from the Japanese Olympic Committee's Athlete Committee but assumed the presidency of the Japan Swimming Federation and the Japan Olympians Association.

4.2. Sports Administrator Roles

Suzuki has held numerous influential positions within various sports organizations, both domestically and internationally. In 2009, he was elected to the board of directors of the Japan Swimming Federation. From April of that year, in addition to his role on the Competition Committee, he became the general manager for open water swimming, lifelong sports, and Japanese traditional swimming styles.

In January 2010, he was elected as a member of the Athlete Committee for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). He also served as a director of the World Olympians Association (WOA) and the Japan Anti-Doping Agency.

In October 2016, he became the Vice President of Asia Aquatics. In July 2017, he was elected as a Bureau Member of World Aquatics (formerly FINA), further solidifying his international administrative presence. Beyond formal roles, he has also worked as a commentator, lecturer, and writer for events like the Olympic Games and the World Aquatics Championships, and as an instructor in swimming clinics. In 2014, he was featured on the official poster for the Japan National Swimming Championships, alongside his gold medal winning photo from Seoul, with the caption, "Of course, I'm happy."

4.3. First Commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency

On October 1, 2015, Daichi Suzuki was appointed as the first Chief Commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency. This new national sports organization, established under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, aimed to coordinate a wide range of sports-related functions and projects carried out by various government ministries. As the Commissioner, a full-time national public servant position, Suzuki resigned from all other concurrent roles.

The 121-person agency was specifically tasked with improving Japan's athletic performance, with a strong focus on the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Suzuki's tenure also included his appointment as a board member of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

On September 11, 2020, it was announced that Suzuki would conclude his five-year term as Sports Agency Commissioner at the end of September. He was succeeded by Koji Murofushi, a gold medalist in the hammer throw at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. During a press conference on September 25, Suzuki reflected on his efforts to ensure that the Sports Agency would be seen as a success five or ten years down the line. He expressed some regret that he could not oversee the completion of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On his final day, September 30, he addressed staff, stating that his departure before the Games was "just life," and he intended to approach it positively.

Around the time of his resignation, there was speculation that Suzuki might run for the Chiba Prefectural Governor election in March 2021, with the Liberal Democratic Party's Chiba chapter considering him as a candidate. Suzuki initially showed interest in running. However, due to opposition and reluctance from local politicians, including Junichi Ishii, and influential figures such as Yoshiro Mori (who had been instrumental in his appointment as Sports Agency Commissioner), he ultimately decided against running in October 2020.

4.4. International Recognition and Later Activities

In 2019, the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) announced that Daichi Suzuki would be inducted into the ISHOF Class of 2020 as an "Honor Swimmer." Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the induction ceremony was postponed to 2021, and he was officially inducted as part of the Class of 2021. The selection committee cited his achievement, stating, "Suzuki surprised the world. He won a gold medal that was thought difficult to obtain."

After concluding his term as Sports Agency Commissioner, Suzuki returned to Juntendo University. In 2020, he became a specially appointed professor in the Graduate School of Sports and Health Science, then re-assumed his role as Vice Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Sports and Health Science. In 2021, he was appointed Director of the Juntendo University Sports and Health Medical Science Promotion Organization (JASMS).

In June 2021, he once again assumed the role of Chairman of the Japan Swimming Federation. In 2022, he also became the chairman of the board of directors for AICJ Junior and Senior High School.
His involvement in international university sports federations continued to grow. In May 2023, he was appointed to the board of directors of the Asian University Sports Federation for a four-year term until 2027. In November 2023, he was further selected as a member of the Executive Committee of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), also for a four-year term.

5.1. Books

• Swimming Exercise: A Scientific Exercise Book on Swimming (Oizumi Shoten, 1997)
• Introduction to Swimming (Oizumi Shoten, 1998)
• The Book for All Japanese to Learn to Swim (Chukei Publishing, 2000) (co-edited with Hideki Fujimoto)
• Swimming Q&A Class (Backstroke Edition) Troubleshooting (Baseball Magazine, 2004)
• The Book for Everyone to Swim Smoothly (Chukei Publishing, 2007) (co-edited with Hideki Fujimoto)
• Health Hygiene and Health Sports Science (Shinohara Publishing, 2006) (co-authored with Yutaka Inaba, Yasuo Shiraishi, Katsutoshi Maruyama, Takuya Takahashi, Takeshi Matsuba, Yuko Suketomo, Shigeru Takai, Takuro Motonaga, and Mikinobu Anmatsu)
• Daichi Suzuki Method (Mainichi Newspapers, 2014)
• The Reason I Became a Top Performer is Because I Did Things Differently (Magazine House, 2014)

5.2. Translated Books

• E.W. Maglischo, Swimming Fastest (Baseball Magazine, 2005) (co-translated with Shigehiro Takahashi)