Unoko Tsuboi

Unoko Tsuboi was a Japanese breaststroke swimmer. As a child Tsuboi’s parents did not like their daughter swimming, as a doctor said she had a weak heart and should not take up strenuous exercise. This did not deter Tsuboi, however, from becoming a swimmer with her local swimming club.

Tsuboi swam in the 200 metres breaststroke at the 1936 Berlin Olympics where she reached the semi-finals. Tsuboi was the Japanese Champion in the 200 m breaststroke in 1937. Tsuboi retired from swimming after she graduated from the Japan Women’s College of Physical Education. She then moved to the Republic of China to teach at the Shanghai Japanese Girls’ School. Sadly, Tsuboi became very ill whilst in Shanghai and died there in November 1940. She was 22.