Hironoshin Furuhashi, VP of FINA, dies at 2009 Aquatics Worlds

by Yuliya Talmazan | August 2, 2009 at 04:02 pm

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Hironoshin Furuhashi, the vice president of FINA -- a swimming governing body that is in charge of organizing annual aquatic world competitions, has died on the last day of the 2009 aquatic world championships. There are reports Furuhashi died in his sleep. He was 80.

Known as "the Flying Fish,'' Furuhashi was one of Japan's first great swimmers, setting several world records in 1949.

After his swimming career, Furuhashi helped organize the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo and became president of Japan's Olympic committee and swimming federation.

FINA president Julio Maglione said Sunday that "FINA will always remember him as a very kind and pleasant man.''