Tanaka, Satoko (1942–)

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Tanaka, Satoko (1942–)

Japanese swimmer. Born Feb 3, 1942, on the island of Kyushu, Japan.

Battled childhood bronchitis and beriberi to become the world's greatest 200-meter backstroke swimmer of her time, holding the Japanese record (1958–70) and the World record (1959–64); at Rome Olympics, won a bronze medal in 100-meter backstroke (1960), though the 200-meter backstroke was not yet an Olympic event.