The Three-Year Swim Club: The Untold Story of Maui's Sugar Ditch Kids and Their Quest for Olympic Glory

Julie Checkoway brings to life one of the most remarkable “LOST” stories in athletic, Olympic and swimming history. She incorporates a fascinating history of Hawaii, Japan and the Olympics to help tell the story of a Hall of Fame swimming coach who dreamed of making champions from the children of poverty-stricken, uneducated Japanese and Philippine- American sugar cane cutters on the island of Maui, in the Hawaiian islands. The coach was Soichi Sakamoto, a regular school teacher who had no background in athletics, let alone swimming, is the true-life hero. Fueled by the success of Japanese swimmers at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Sakamoto started teaching children swimming in the dirty, muddy sugar cane-plantation irrigation ditches. Some of his swimmers did so well that he came to believe, by 1937, that some of these kids could be Olympic Champions. Thus came the idea for the “Three Year Swim Club.” It was a challenge to the kids he had been training: if they worked hard, didn’t smoke, drink or gamble, obeyed their parents and coach, in three years, some would represent the United States, in the home of their ancestors, at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, in 1940. It is both an inspirational and emotional story - against all odds - filled with tragedies and triumphs and one that changed the world of swimming for ever. The story has been likened to Unbroken and Boys on the Boat. I would add Seabiscuit to that list (as the swimmers from Maui often had bigger headlines in the nation's papers than the horse). This story will be a fantastic new exhibit at the International Swimming Hall of Fame and could make a great movie.I recommend the audible.com version, as read by Alex Chadwick, but you’ll also want the book for its photos.I also really enjoyed her presentation in San Francisco, along with two-time Olympian Steve Clark (see photo). A great job of research and story telling.Bruce WigoPresident / International Swimming Hall of Fame

Having visited Maui several times, the initial historical perspective fascinated me as did the strong protagonist. Checkoway's extensive research was obvious throughout the book, and I was inspired by the determination of both the coach and many of his trainees who faced adverse conditions to achieve their goals. However, at points I found the extensive reporting of practice and race times and results tedious, and at a few poinst almost abandoned the book. However, I was determined to discover the outcome for many of the characters. Overall, the book and varied characters and the challenges and success were inspirational; however, due to the work's length and over-zealous details, I would not recommend it to everyone, even though I did enjoy it and discovered the new, old world of competitive swimming.

Well narratedVery personal as this is where I grew up many years later

Way too wordy and filled with minutia. Interesting story but it was a slog to get through the book. I felt like I was swimming through mud. Checkoway certainly did her research, but she was not willing to let go of any "fact" that she uncovered. She didn't need to list the menus of the restaurants they went to or the tiny details of the swim practices, for example. Just because the participants gave her shopping bags and duffle bags filled with mementos, doesn't mean we needed to know every detail. I found it difficult to keep all the characters straight. She jumps around to so many different people that I was unable to get to know or understand or like any of them. The book certainly isn't of "Boys in the Boat" caliber. In that book the author focuses primarily on one rower and you grow to care for him. Not true with the Three-Year Swim Club. One of the main heroes in my opinion is Sakimoto's wife, Mary, who puts up with him, but not very much is said about her or his children. If you are crazy about swimming or Hawaii, this book is for you. Otherwise I'd pass on it. Interesting note: in the Kindle edition there are book discussion questions (again, way too many and too wordy) but I couldn't find them anywhere in hard copies or on the web to be able to print them out for my book club.

A very enjoyable tale of a self-made coach on Maui training and inspiring multiple swimming champions in the 1930s and 1940s. Highly recommended.

What an amazing true story of children swimming in a dirty ditch who, under the guidance and faith of a man who became their coach, became hugely successful swimmers on the international stage, including the Olympics. The book is well written and maintains your interest.

I had heard the book was a great read so ordered it from Amazon. Am reading it now.Thank you.

I actually came upon this book at the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum gift shop, and ordered it from Amazon on the spot (limited room in my luggage) a month and a half ago. I finally opened this book a few days ago, and just finished it. Julie Checkoway’s approach to this book showed as much dedication getting this story right as the many swimmers and their coach Soichi Sakamoto had of reaching for their dreams. This book is a fantastic example of what a bit of creativity, determination and a lot of heart can do in this world. So very glad I ran into this book.

amazing story, the writing and some of the swimming details are somewhat cumbersome, but the gist of the story is great and should be read by all. Story of hope, endurance, history and the shamefulness of racism.

Great subject and received the book on time.

I just received my order this morning' Looking forward to begin reading it'