EVELYN KAWAMOTO
_____Evelyn Kawamoto
- Konno raised a family (two daughters) and became an educator
(teacher)
_____A year after attending McKinley
High School (Honolulu, Hawaii), Evelyn placed 3rd in 400m Freestyle
and 3rd in 400 Free Relay - 1952 Olympics, Helsinki, Finland.
At the games, Evelyn received a wire telegram from her mother:
Do your best for your family name. The telegram was taken to
heart, and Evelyn excelled in her event. From the preliminaries,
Evelyn moved up to the Final heat.
_____Unbelievably, the U.S. officials
pulled straws for the lane assignment. An outside lane was drawn.
At a disadvantage from the backwash, Evelyn kept her pace and
placed 3rd in the 400m Freestyle. The only American Women to
come home with an individual medal. The other medal was achieved
with the 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay.
_____Still ranked
in the top for women's 400 freestyle! Evelyn became the National
A.A.U. Champion in the 300 Individual Medley and the 200 Breaststroke
at the Nationals and the 400 meter freestyle
_____Started at 9 years old with
the City Parks and Recreation program. Was introduced to Coach
Sakamoto. Taken in small steps, long hours of training. The long
term objectives were swimming at the local swimming meets, which
were stepping stones to the National meets and then to the Olympic
Games.
| 100m. Breaststroke |
Hawaiian Record |
1:24.2 |
1950 |
| 200m. Breaststroke |
Hawaiian Record |
3:03.0 |
1950 |
| 400m Freestyle |
American Record |
5:14.14 |
1952 |
| 400m Freestyle |
Hawaiian Record |
5:14.4 |
1952 |
| 300m I.M. |
American Record |
4:27.50 |
1949 |
| 300m I.M. |
Hawaiian Record |
4:27.5 |
1949 |
| 200m Breaststroke |
Outdoor National Champion |
|
*1950, 1951 |
| 300m I.M. |
Outdoor National Champion |
|
1949, 1950, 1951 |
| 400m Freestyle |
Outdoor National Champion |
|
1951 |
| 800m Freestyle Relay |
American Team |
|
1949, 1950, 1951 |
| * Please note: Evelyn tied for 1st place with Marjorie Hilton.
First tie award in swimming history due to judges decision. Judges
to the right and left at finals could not come to one winner
decision despite much deliberation. A unique medal was made due
to results: 1/2 gold and 1/2 silver soldered together. |
|
A message from Coach Sakamoto:
To Eve(lyn),
It was a wonderful meet and a well earned
victory for us.
It was the team work of everyone, and you
were an important part in it.
We have learned a lot and we must make use
of every knowledge wisely.
Our goal is still to be achieved, and this
national meet success is only a stepping stone to it.
I sincerely hope that you will not forget
your real objective, and strive on and on despite difficulties,
sacrifice and hardship to obtain it.
You will not regret, you will not sorrow over
what you have done for what you will earn so dearly,
Coach Sakamoto
|
Inducted into the Hawaii
Athlete's Hall of Fame_||_Women's
Olympic ranking_||_Star Bulletin's article of Evelyn's induction
into the hall of fame_||_Hawaii's Hall
of Fame
|