The Three-Year Swim Club

The Untold Story of Maui's Sugar Ditch Kids and Their Quest for Olympic Glory

By: Julie Checkoway

Narrated by: Alex Chadwick

For listeners of Unbroken and The Boys in the Boat comes the inspirational, untold story of impoverished children who transformed themselves into world-class swimmers.

In 1937, a schoolteacher on the island of Maui challenged a group of poverty-stricken sugar plantation kids to swim upstream against the current of their circumstance. The goal? To become Olympians.

They faced seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The children were Japanese-American, were malnourished and barefoot, and had no pool; they trained in the filthy irrigation ditches that snaked down from the mountains into the sugarcane fields. Their future was in those same fields, working alongside their parents in virtual slavery, known not by their names but by numbered tags that hung around their necks. Their teacher, Soichi Sakamoto, was an ordinary man whose swimming ability didn't extend much beyond treading water.

In spite of everything, including the virulent anti-Japanese sentiment of the late 1930s, in their first year the children outraced Olympic athletes twice their size; in their second year, they were national and international champs, shattering American and world records and making headlines from LA to Nazi Germany. In their third year, they'd be declared the greatest swimmers in the world, but they'd also face their greatest obstacle: the dawning of a world war and the cancellation of the games. Still, on the battlefield, they'd become the 20th century's most celebrated heroes, and in 1948 they'd have one last chance for Olympic glory.

They were the Three-Year Swim Club. This is their story.

©2015 Julie Checkoway (P)2015 Hachette Audio

terrific

This book brought back many memories and emotions to me, having been involved with swimming for nearly 25 years as a competitor and official begining in the early 50s.

a historical masterpiece

a struggle for me for the first few chapters...so glad I kept going. it brought tears in more than a few places as it celebrates true athletic spirit and grit that requires the same from coaches who are able to skillfully hone the roughest stones into sleek turbo charged competitive diamonds.

What does it take to be great ?

This was a very long story, sharing the historical significance of the three year swim team and the legacy of Maui swimmers, coaches and Olympians!
I am not a swimmer so much of the data times and swimming terminology that was included is probably significant to those who understand.

I loved the inspiration of greatness, dedication and the passion told by a simple teacher who changed the lives of children in an epic and noble manner.

Fantastic and unknown history of early swimmers

In the face of poverty, racism, WWII, and the wild and wooly early days of swimming, a Japanese American school teacher in Maui teaches plantation kids to swim in irrigation ditches. He takes them around the world working towards the goal of becoming Olympic swimmers. I learned so much from this book and was caught up in the history and the STORY of remarkable young men and woman, and their earnest teacher who taught them discipline and how to win. Not to be missed!

Wonderful story, bad pronounciations

Great story that I never heard about before. Enjoyed the story but the offended by the pronunciations of many of the Japanese names by the narrator. Although the he was consistently incorrect throughout the book to misprouncing the names, for me it was like nails on a chalkboard each and every time. Me and my fellow Hawaiian family and friends are very proud of our names and heritage. But the story itself was well written and the details of the swim meets, the Olympics and the training methods of Mr. Sakamoto are amazing.

Underdogs' Journey to Olympic Glory

This is the journey of underprivileged children transforming into Olympic-level swimmers and is masterfully chronicled. Set against the backdrop of 1930s Maui, the narrative is a testament to the power of resilience and determination. The children, battling poverty and discrimination, find an unlikely champion in Soichi Sakamoto, a teacher whose dedication transcends his own limitations. The book is not just about athletic triumph; it delves into the complexities of human nature, as seen in characters like E.L. Damkroger, whose behind the scenes struggle to maintain power adds a compelling layer to the story. Checkoway skillfully narrates the challenges these swimmers faced, from societal prejudice to the turmoil of World War II, capturing their relentless spirit. This tale is a poignant reminder of how perseverance and guidance can uplift individuals from the most humble beginnings to the pinnacle of success. An inspiring read.

Great story but the Hawaiian words get slaughtered

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

The true story of plantation workers' kids from Maui making it to the US swim finals and Olympics is remarkable. Lots of history. Rewarding story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Three-Year Swim Club?

The story of the coach.

What didn’t you like about Alex Chadwick’s performance?

He did not study the Hawai'ian language and slaughtered words and place names. Listening to that aspect for me was a nightmare.
I have complained before to audible that many of their readers when reading a foreign language have no knowledge and consequently hurt their listeners' ears with mispronunciations.

Swimmer or not, great story!

This book could prove to be a bit fact laden for a non swimmer. But to an avid fan of the sport it was extremely interesting. I recognized and know of several of those mentioned. Also very interesting was the background of modern swimming techniques. Great inspirational story for anyone , swimmer or not!

Bad pronunciations

Interesting book but too many mispronunciations of Hawaiian and Japanese names, places and other words.

Great story, needed a different reader

Being from Hawai'i and just one generation out from the events in this book, I loved the book. It held me rapt the entire time. The only criticism I have is that the publishers should have chosen a more appropriate reader. The narration was full of mispronunciations that were galling in light of the discrimination the swimmers and coach faced. The reader never even pronounced the name of Soichi Sakamoto correctly.

Beyond that, the story is an important one and Julie Checkoway did a wonderful job of retelling it.