The Three-Year Swim Club

The Three-Year Swim Club chronicles the true story of Soichi Sakamoto, a science teacher who trained poor Japanese-American children to become competitive swimmers in 1937 Hawaii. Working with youth from the sugar plantation camps of Maui, Sakamoto developed his own techniques and training methods despite having no swimming background himself. The narrative follows Sakamoto and his swimmers from their humble beginnings practicing in irrigation ditches through their pursuit of qualifying for the Olympics. Through rigorous training six days per week, the swimmers worked toward their goals while facing prejudice, poverty, and the mounting tensions of pre-World War II America. Checkoway reconstructs this little-known piece of sports history through extensive research and interviews with surviving team members. The book provides context about Hawaiian plantation life, the social dynamics of the era, and the development of competitive swimming in the United States. The story illustrates themes of perseverance, innovation, and the power of believing in potential where others see limitations. Against the backdrop of a changing America, it examines how sports can transcend social barriers and transform lives.

Readers found this underdog sports story compelling but wanted more focus on the swimmers themselves. Many noted the extensive historical context and background information helped set the scene of 1930s Hawaii, though some felt these details slowed the narrative. Readers appreciated: - Rich details about Hawaiian culture and plantation life - Coach Soichi Sakamoto's determination and innovative training methods - The swimmers' achievements against significant odds Common criticisms: - Too much peripheral information and side stories - Difficult to follow the large cast of characters - Writing style could be dense and meandering "The story itself is fascinating but gets lost in excessive detail," noted one Amazon reviewer. "I wanted to know more about the swimmers' personal experiences," wrote another. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (2,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (280+ ratings) BookBrowse: 4/5 (multiple critics) The book resonates most with readers interested in sports history and Hawaiian culture who don't mind detailed historical context.

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🌺 Coach Soichi Sakamoto taught his swimmers in irrigation ditches on Maui, as there were no pools available. The swimmers had to dodge sugar cane chunks and navigate murky waters during their training. 🏊 Despite having no formal swim training himself, Sakamoto developed revolutionary training techniques, including weight training and interval training methods that were ahead of their time. 🎯 The team's original goal was to qualify for the 1940 Olympics, but World War II led to the cancellation of both the 1940 and 1944 Games. Several team members later competed in the 1948 Olympics. 📚 Author Julie Checkoway spent five years researching the book, conducting over 120 interviews and traveling extensively between Hawaii, Japan, and the mainland United States. 🏆 The swim club produced notable athletes including Keo Nakama, who became the first person to swim the Molokai Channel in 1961 and set world records in multiple events during his career.