Hatsuho Matsuzawa

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameHatsuho•Matsuzawa (-Sugaya)
Used nameHatsuho•Matsuzawa
Original name松澤•初穂
Other names菅谷 初穂
Born8 January 1914 in Maizuru, Kyoto (JPN)
Died1 January 2011 in Nishinomiya, Hyogo (JPN)
AffiliationsJapan Women's College of Physical Education, Setagaya (JPN)
NOC Japan

Biography

Hatsuho Matsuzawa made considerable progress in swimming while attending Ichioka Senior High School in Osaka, setting Japanese records in the 50 and 100 m freestyle. She entered the Japan Women’s College of Physical Education which lacked, however, appropriate training facilities for swimming. In 1931, she captured the national title in the 100 m freestyle. Although she did not place first in the Japanese trials for the Los Angeles Olympics, Matsuzawa was selected as team captain. In the 100 m freestyle, none of the Japanese female swimmers advanced to the semi-finals. For health reasons , she was not able to make the Japanese relay team. The following year, she improved the national record in the 50 m freestyle to 31.6, a record that lasted until 1954.

After graduating Matsuzawa became a teacher at her previous high school in Ichioka and joined the Japanese team for the Berlin Olympics as a coach. She maintained a life-long friendship with 1936 gold medalist Hideko Maehata. In 1937 she married and later became a mother of five. The Japanese Federation of Swimming awarded her a Certificate of Merit in 1964. At the age of 70, she initiated a team of senior swimmers and competed in masters’ competitions. Five years later, she set a world record in the 50 m freestyle for her age group. Matsuzawa spent her last years with her daughter, after her house was destroyed during an earthquake in 1995.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1932 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) JPN Hatsuho Matsuzawa
100 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic) 4 h1 r1/3