Susan Nishioka started coaching swimming and water polo at Roosevelt High School soon after she graduated from the school in 1972, encouraging “anything that can float” to dive in.

She turns 71 in November. She retired as a Roosevelt math teacher in 2013 but is still coaching swimming and water polo for the Rough Riders.

Though her playing days are behind her — she was described as an “impenetrable” goalie in a career littered with honors — she went back to swimming laps when pools reopened after the pandemic hit.

Her coaching still goes on 11 months a year, for Roosevelt and clubs including Anuenue Water Polo, which began more than 50 years ago. Nishioka’s impact on swimming and, especially, water polo has been endless and immense.

She was inducted into the Hawaii Swimming Hall of Fam

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