Konno, Ford H.
Swimming
b. Jan. 1, 1933, Honolulu, HI
Shortly after graduating from high school in 1951, Konno set a world record of 9:30.7 in the 800-meter freestyle swim. He also won that event and the 1,500-meter free style at the AAU outdoor championships that year.
Konno entered Ohio State University in the fall of 1951. He had an outstanding year in 1952, winning the NCAA and AAU 440-yard and 1,500-meter freestyle championships and the AAU indoor 220-yard, 440-yard, and 1,500-meter titles. At the Olympics, he won gold medals in the 1,500-meter freestyle and the 4 by 200-meter relay. He was also the silver medalist in the 400-meter race.
He won only one major title, the AAU outdoor 400-meter, in 1953, but in 1954 he again took the NCAA 440-yard and 1,500-meter championships, along with the AAU outdoor 200-, 400-, and 1,500-meter titles and the indoor 220-, 440-k, and 1,500-meter events. Konno set world records of 2:03.9 in the 200-meter and 4:26.7 in the 400-meter freestyle during 1954 college meets.
Konno won the NCAA 440-yard and 1,500-meter championships for a third time in 1955. He was also the AAU outdoor champion in the 200- and 400-meter events and he won the indoor 220- and 440-yard titles. In 1956, his last year of competition, Konno won a silver medal as a member of the Olympic 4 by 200-meter relay team.