Yoshiyuki Tsuruta

3.1. Domestic Competitions

Tsuruta quickly established himself as a formidable swimmer within Japan. In 1925, he competed in the 2nd Meiji Shrine Games, held at the Shiba Park Pool, where he won the 200-meter breaststroke event with a time of 3 minutes, 12.8 seconds. In the same year, he also secured victory in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2nd Japan National Swimming Championships. His domestic success continued, as he won the 200-meter breaststroke at the Japan National Championships in 1926. In 1927 and 1928, he achieved double victories, winning both the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke titles. He maintained his winning streak in the 100-meter and 200-meter breaststroke events in 1929 and 1930, and further won the 100-meter breaststroke in 1931, showcasing his sustained prowess in Japanese swimming.

3.2. 1928 Amsterdam Olympics

Tsuruta was selected as a member of the Japanese Olympic team for the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. At the time, he was affiliated with the Hōchi Shimbun (報知新聞_{Hōchi Shimbun}^Japanese) newspaper company. He demonstrated strong form throughout the competition, improving his times from the preliminary heats to the semifinals. In the semifinals, he swam the 200-meter breaststroke in 2 minutes, 50.0 seconds, further improving to 2 minutes, 49.2 seconds. The final race took place on August 8, where Tsuruta delivered a spectacular performance, winning the gold medal with a new world record time of 2 minutes, 48.8 seconds. He notably defeated the then-world record holder, Erich Rademacher of Germany. This victory made Tsuruta the second Japanese athlete to win an Olympic gold medal, following Mikio Oda's triumph in the triple jump on August 2. Significantly, Tsuruta's medal was made of silver, adhering to the Olympic regulations, unlike Oda's bronze medal.

3.3. Inter-Olympic Period and World Records

Following his return from the Amsterdam Olympics, Tsuruta continued his academic pursuits, enrolling in the law school of Meiji University. Despite his studies, he remained actively involved in swimming, maintaining his competitive edge. In 1929, while competing in Kyoto, he set another remarkable world record in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2 minutes, 45.0 seconds. This record stood for 614 days, until April 2, 1931, when it was surpassed by Leonard Spence of the United States.

3.4. 1932 Los Angeles Olympics

After graduating from Meiji University, Tsuruta was employed by the South Manchurian Railway (南満州鉄道_{Minami Manshū Tetsudō}^Japanese), which provided sponsorship for his participation in the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. His long leave of absence for the Olympics was reportedly treated as an unapproved absence by the company, resulting in a cut to his salary and bonuses. Leading up to the Los Angeles Games, his teammate Reizo Koike was considered a strong favorite, even setting a new world record of 2 minutes, 44.9 seconds in the semifinals, while Tsuruta's preliminary time was 2 minutes, 46.2 seconds. However, in the final, Tsuruta once again demonstrated his exceptional competitive spirit, winning the gold medal with a time of 2 minutes, 45.4 seconds. Koike secured the silver medal with a time of 2 minutes, 46.4 seconds. This victory made Yoshiyuki Tsuruta the first Japanese athlete in history to win gold medals in two consecutive Olympic Games. He and Kosuke Kitajima are the only two swimmers to have achieved consecutive Olympic gold medals in breaststroke events. Notably, Tsuruta's participation in these Olympics was partly intended to support Koike, but it ultimately led to his own historic consecutive victory.

3.5. World Records

Yoshiyuki Tsuruta set two official world records in the men's 200-meter breaststroke, both recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC):

• 2 minutes, 48.8 seconds:** Achieved on August 8, 1928, during the final of the 200-meter breaststroke at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.
• 2 minutes, 45.0 seconds:** Achieved on July 27, 1929, in Kyoto, Japan. This record was held for 614 days before being broken on April 2, 1931.

4.1. Professional Career

In 1934, Tsuruta took on a role with the Nagoya City government, serving as the director of physical education. As World War II escalated, he was recalled to active duty service with the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1943. After the war concluded, he joined the Ehime Shimbun, a prominent newspaper company based in Ehime Prefecture. During his tenure at Ehime Shimbun, he held several key positions, including business department manager, sales deputy manager, Tokyo branch manager, and auditor.

4.2. Sports Promotion and Administration

Tsuruta's commitment to sports extended far beyond his competitive days. From 1948, he became an influential figure in sports administration. He served on the board of directors for the Ehime Prefecture Athletic Association, was the President of the Matsuyama Swimming Association, and acted as an advisor to both the Japan Swimming Federation and the Japan Amateur Sports Association. Beginning in 1949, he spearheaded efforts to introduce swimming as a required activity in schools. He also initiated the first Ehime Swimming School, sponsored by Ehime Shimbun, which ran until 1988. Through these initiatives, Tsuruta tirelessly worked to ensure that no child was unable to swim, significantly contributing to the expansion and popularization of swimming at the grassroots level across Japan.

7.1. Monuments and Commemoration

Tsuruta's legacy is commemorated through various tributes and memorials. A statue and a memorial stone have been erected in his honor in front of his birthplace in Ishiki 8-chome, Kagoshima City, located along Japan National Route 3. His Olympic gold medals and certificates are permanently exhibited at the Ehime Museum of History and Culture (愛媛人物博物館_{Ehime Jinbutsu Hakubutsukan}^Japanese) in Ehime Prefecture, where he spent his later years. It is noted that the plating on his gold medal wore off over time because he allowed participants of his 40-year swimming classes to touch it, a testament to his approachable nature and dedication to the community. Tsuruta's life and achievements were also depicted in the 2019 NHK Taiga drama, `いだてん~東京オリムピック噺~<sub>Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Story</sub><sup>Japanese</sup>`, where he was portrayed by actor Shunsuke Daito.