Yuriko Hirohashi

Yuriko Hirohashi was born as the daughter of a Buddhist monk and showed a talent for jumping at an early age. She started to practice the high jump while attending junior high and taught herself the scissors technique of jumping. In 1931, she equaled Yae Sagara’s Japanese record of 1.46 while winning her first national title. At the trials for the Los Angeles Olympics, she improved the record to 1.48. At the Olympics she cleared 1.49 and defeated Sagara again.

Hirohashi was invited to enter the Japan Women’s College of Physical Education and joined the athletics club, determined to take part in the next Olympics. During this time, she won the Japanese Championship in 1933 and 1934. At the trials for the Berlin Olympics she was ranked second but was not chosen for the team although she had been Japan’s top jumper for several years.

After graduating she first worked as an assistant at the Women’s College of Physical Education but joined her father after her mother’s sudden death. Hirohashi worked as a teacher in Fukuoka and Kumamoto Prefectures and continued to compete, preparing for the 1940 Olympics in Tokyo. She captured a fourth national title in 1937 but finally retired when Tokyo returned the right to hold the Games.

Hirohashi then accompanied her father to Korea and eventually returned to her native Ishikawa Prefecture. There she worked as a teacher and athletics coach at various schools including her alma mater. She retired but remained active as a health advisor for middle- and old-aged people. At the age of 60 she suddenly died from a stroke.

Personal Best: HJ – 1.52 (1932).