--- product_id: 29700648 title: "The Three-Year Swim Club: The Untold Story of Maui's Sugar Ditch Kids and Their Quest for Olympic Glory" brand: "julie checkoway" price: "VT6871" currency: VUV in_stock: true reviews_count: 11 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/29700648-the-three-year-swim-club-the-untold-story-of-mauis store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # The Three-Year Swim Club: The Untold Story of Maui's Sugar Ditch Kids and Their Quest for Olympic Glory **Brand:** julie checkoway **Price:** VT6871 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Three-Year Swim Club: The Untold Story of Maui's Sugar Ditch Kids and Their Quest for Olympic Glory by julie checkoway - **How much does it cost?** VT6871 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/29700648-the-three-year-swim-club-the-untold-story-of-mauis) ## Best For - julie checkoway enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted julie checkoway brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Three-Year Swim Club: The Untold Story of Maui's Sugar Ditch Kids and Their Quest for Olympic Glory ## Images ![The Three-Year Swim Club: The Untold Story of Maui's Sugar Ditch Kids and Their Quest for Olympic Glory - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61ZMXazXyyL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautifully Told Story about conquering poverty and discrimination through achievement! *by A***R on Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2015* Julie Checkoway brings to life one of the most remarkable “LOST” stories in athletic, Olympic and swimming history. She incorporates a fascinating history of Hawaii, Japan and the Olympics to help tell the story of a Hall of Fame swimming coach who dreamed of making champions from the children of poverty-stricken, uneducated Japanese and Philippine- American sugar cane cutters on the island of Maui, in the Hawaiian islands. The coach was Soichi Sakamoto, a regular school teacher who had no background in athletics, let alone swimming, is the true-life hero. Fueled by the success of Japanese swimmers at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Sakamoto started teaching children swimming in the dirty, muddy sugar cane-plantation irrigation ditches. Some of his swimmers did so well that he came to believe, by 1937, that some of these kids could be Olympic Champions. Thus came the idea for the “Three Year Swim Club.” It was a challenge to the kids he had been training: if they worked hard, didn’t smoke, drink or gamble, obeyed their parents and coach, in three years, some would represent the United States, in the home of their ancestors, at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, in 1940. It is both an inspirational and emotional story - against all odds - filled with tragedies and triumphs and one that changed the world of swimming for ever. The story has been likened to Unbroken and Boys on the Boat. I would add Seabiscuit to that list (as the swimmers from Maui often had bigger headlines in the nation's papers than the horse). This story will be a fantastic new exhibit at the International Swimming Hall of Fame and could make a great movie.I recommend the audible.com version, as read by Alex Chadwick, but you’ll also want the book for its photos.I also really enjoyed her presentation in San Francisco, along with two-time Olympian Steve Clark (see photo). A great job of research and story telling.Bruce WigoPresident / International Swimming Hall of Fame ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars at points I found the extensive reporting of practice and race times and results tedious, and at a few poinst almost abandoned t *by A***R on Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2016* Having visited Maui several times, the initial historical perspective fascinated me as did the strong protagonist. Checkoway's extensive research was obvious throughout the book, and I was inspired by the determination of both the coach and many of his trainees who faced adverse conditions to achieve their goals. However, at points I found the extensive reporting of practice and race times and results tedious, and at a few poinst almost abandoned the book. However, I was determined to discover the outcome for many of the characters. Overall, the book and varied characters and the challenges and success were inspirational; however, due to the work's length and over-zealous details, I would not recommend it to everyone, even though I did enjoy it and discovered the new, old world of competitive swimming. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars Good book *by F***Z on Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2024* Well narratedVery personal as this is where I grew up many years later --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/29700648-the-three-year-swim-club-the-untold-story-of-mauis](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/29700648-the-three-year-swim-club-the-untold-story-of-mauis) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-05-14*