Sonny Tanable OLY becomes an MLC Honorary Life Member
Mediterranean 24.04.2024. The Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation (MLC) proudly announces that the Hawaiian Swimming Hall of Fame, Sonny Tanabe OLY (Hawaii), became an MLC Honorary Life Member.
Sonny Tanabe holds a BSc on Physical Education and a MSc on Health and Safety (Indiana University). He worked as Assistant Aquatic Director, Teacher in Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, Swimming and Water Polo Coach, Water Safety, Skin and SCUBA Diving Instructor in various places. Sonny served many organizations in leading capacities; Corporate Board (Island of Hawaii YMCA); Chairman Emeritus (Island of Hawaii YMCA); Chairman (Blue Water Spearfishing Symposium), Co-Chairman (Hawaii Freedive Spearfishing EXPO 2000); President of the Hawaii Freediving and Spearfishing Wall of Fame) He served as an Aquatic Specialist at Kamehameha Schools, President and Vice President of the U.S. Olympians Hawaii Chapter, and Life Member of the World Olympians Association. He is a Life Member of the US Olympian Alumni Association and the Indiana University "I" Men's Association. He is the Founder, President and currently Emeritus President of the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fame. He serves as swimming historian (Friends of the Natatorium) and the Board of Directors (Pat Mc Cormick Educational Foundation in California). He holds the following awards; Athletes of the Week (Softball, Swimming), Hawaiian AAU Indoor Swimming Championships - Outstanding Men's Junior; Key to the City from the Mayor of Newark, NJ; National Collegiate Athletic Association (3years) and Amateur Athletic Union All-American; US Swim Team - Mid Atlantic Swim Championship (Bermuda). He has authored 3 books and was honored by many organizations. Honorary Member, Greek Lifesaving Sports Association. He was inducted into 5 Hall and Wall of Fames.
Tanabe, commented about his recognition: "I am greatly honored and proud to accept the MLC Honorary Life Membership. I hope in the near future lifesaving sport will be included into the Olympic Games because of its humanitarian sport values. At the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, 5 Hawaii Olympic swimmers representing the USA, were invited to the Australian Surf Life Saving Carnival at Torquay Beach by Duke and Nadine Kahanamoku. They were official guests of the Australian Olympic Organizing Committee and Australian Surf Lifesaving Carnival Committee. There were about 15,000 spectators for this event. I felt like it was part of the Olympic Games. Representing the USA at the lifesaving event, were two teams from California and Hawaii. The state of Hawaii is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, geographically isolated with the closest city over 2000 miles away. Drowning has long been the leading cause of death for tourists, far outpacing the rate of drowning for local residents and the U.S. national average. Kamehameha Schools realized the importance of swimming and lifesaving. Swimming was a graduation requirement that all students had to pass. The swimming program started from Kindergarten to 12th grade. In my 33 years of teaching aquatics and physical fitness at Kamehameha Schools for indigenous Hawaiian students, it has been rewarding to observe my former students still practicing what they were taught. I value aquatic activities because they become a way of life. It is an important skill forever!"
The
MLC President, Giorgio Quintavalle and the MLC Secretary General, Dr
Stathis Avramidis, said on this occasion: “Sonny is a true
waterman. He is humble, productive and what we call a peaceful force of change.
His input to society along with his modesty, make him unique. He grew up in the
black and white era that we all admired when we were young and red in the first
rare aquatic and lifesaving books. He is the living intermediate that connects
the precious vintage era with our contemporary society. He was lucky to be
among the world’s water legends and we are proud to enlist him among our
Mediterranean greats!”
