Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Month, celebrated annually over the course of the month of May, honors Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and their impact.

As we look forward to an exciting summer filled with fast swimming, we reflect on individuals who have accomplished the goals our athletes hope to reach in the coming months. In 1952, two Asian Americans won Olympic gold for the first time in American history. Ford Konno, a Japanese American swimmer born in Hawaii, earned two golds (1500m freestyle and 800m freestyle relay) and a silver (400m freestyle) at the 1952 Games (hosted in Helsinki, Finland). Yoshinobu Oyakawa, born on the Kona side of the big island of Hawaii, made his first Olympic team at 19 years old (1952) and won gold in the 100m backstroke. With Konno, Oyakawa represented the U.S. again in 1956 and was a co-captain while also being a 2nd Lt. in the United States Air Force.

Since Konno and Oyakawa, our current and former National Team athletes have continued to break barriers in the sport. Leading our sport as USA Swimming Chair-Elect sits Natalie Coughlin, the first female Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander swimmer to earn an Olympic gold medal for Team USA (100m backstroke). Coughlin is the first woman of any descent to swim the 100m backstroke in under a minute, a 12-time Olympic medalist, and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2016. Joining Coughlin on the Board is Kenneth Chung, the Vice Chair of Fiscal Oversight and the Officials’ Committee Chair for North Texas LSC. Growing up in a low-income household in Hong Kong without the opportunity to have formal swim lessons, Chung jumped at the opportunity to enroll his oldest daughter in swim lessons after she took an interest in the water. After joining a local Learn-to-Swim program, she eventually competed with a year-round team. Chung started his volunteer career officiating summer league, which led to becoming a stroke-turn judge, something he continues to enjoy today.

USA Swimming Foundation Ambassador Nathan Adrian made his debut on the Olympic stage in 2008, where he was part of the legendary gold medal 4x100m freestyle relay. As an eight-time Olympian, Adrian is one of the most decorated American sprinters of his generation. His mother was born and raised in Hong Kong, and he has served as a USA Swimming Foundation Ambassador since 2014.

Current National Team athletes, Tokyo Olympic silver medalists, and USA Swimming National Diversity Select Camp alumni Torri Huske (4x100m medley relay) and Jay Litherland (400m individual medley) look to continue their Olympic journeys as they compete at Lucas Oil Stadium in June. Huske’s mother was born in the People’s Republic of China and moved to the United States to study at Virginia Tech. In addition to her silver medal in Tokyo, Huske earned fourth (100m butterfly) and fifth (4x100m mixed medley relay) place finishes. Litherland, a triplet who also represented the United States in the 2016 Games, was born in Osaka, Japan. This year’s 55-person National Diversity Select Camp roster will get a unique three-day camp experience in Indianapolis, Indiana, where all camp participants will be part of history as it concludes with a trip to Trials opening night on June 15th.

Coaches and volunteers at the local level work tirelessly to help build a sport where everyone can participate. Reid Yamamoto, head coach for Hawaii Swim Club, shared his impact on and off deck this month here. Listen to and watch all USA Swimming member spotlights on the USA Swimming Network throughout the year.

In 2020, USA Swimming and the USA Swimming Foundation introduced Community Impact Grants,  allowing clubs led by racially diverse individuals to apply and receive $5,000 grants. To date, these grants, which are eligible for renewal annually for up to three years, have provided $315,000 to 32 member clubs nationwide.

Also at the local level and held annually in Southern California Swimming, the Mission Viejo Nadadores hosts an AAPI Lunar Festival Meet. This past February, swimmers participated in the special meet honoring Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ancestry.

USA Swimming and the USA Swimming Foundation are committed to continuing to create national and local opportunities for athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers. Do you know a member or club doing extraordinary work that should be spotlighted? Email Devonie Pitre at dpitre@usaswimming.org.