GOODBYE TO HIRONOSHIN FURUHASHI, FINA VICE PRESIDENT

Rome (ITA), August 2, 2009 - With great sadness, FINA announces the loss of its Vice President Hironoshin Furuhashi (JPN), who passed away the last night in his sleep here in Rome.

"Furu San", as he was known within the FINA Family, was a reference for FINA. Born in 1928, he was Japan's "Flying Fish" in the 1940s and has established several world records in the 1500m free.

After he concluded his brilliant career as an athlete, he actively participated in the organisation of the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo and since then became a key-official in Japan: he was President of the National Olympic Committee and National Swimming Federation of his country.

In 1968, he enters the FINA Bureau and was presently FINA's Vice President. Recently awarded by the Emperor of Japan, "Furu San" also received FINA's highest prizes and was considered an example of devotion to Aquatic sports worldwide.

FINA will always remember him as a kind and efficient official.

Thank you "Furu San"!

In this very sad moment, FINA expresses its sincere condolences to Furuhashi's family and to the entire aquatic community in Japan.