From poor swimmer to king of the pool
Friends remember life of much-loved Miami icon
SOMETHING odd happened at Miami Aquatic Centre four days ago – Freddy didn’t show up for work.
No phone call. No text message. No huge smile waiting for anyone who glanced his way.
Then something weirder happened and that’s when Matthew ‘Izzy’ Isbisper felt a sick feeling in his stomach.
“He didn’t arrive on Saturday and that’s when we filed a missing person report,” the centre facilities manager said of Fumitsugo ‘Freddy’ Kuwahata, a man whose love of the Miami pool was only exceeded by those who adored him.
“The police went to his apartment and he had passed away in his sleep, which was sort of a relief. We’re still waiting for the autopsy but it would seem it was natural causes.
“Our regulars and staff are really feeling it. He arrived here 21 years ago and it became his life. He found a place he felt comfortable and ended up becoming part of the fabric.”
Freddy was no Grant Hackett, Dan Kowalski or Ky Hurst. Unlike those Miami legends, the 52-year-old couldn’t glide through the water like he was born to swim rather than walk.
For proof, look no further than the first time he slid into that pool all those years ago.
“The story goes it took him an hour to swim a lap,” Izzy says, mentioning the scoliosis that inspired the Japanese-born man to become a swimmer.
“The manager ended up giving his money back – ‘I can’t charge you for that’ – but started giving him lessons and then brought him on as a volunteer.
“He’s been here ever since. We employed him to do maintenance – mowing, gardening, cleaning – but could never afford to pay him for everything he does because he’s here almost 100 hours a week.”
He’s not exaggerating. Each day, without fail, Freddy would see the pool gate open at 4am and close again that night, only separated by a four-hour break during the middle of the day.
Until five years ago, he also
THE STORY GOES IT TOOK HIM AN HOUR TO SWIM A LAP. THE MANAGER ENDED UP GIVING HIS MONEY BACK
had another job but, like so much of Freddy’s life, what he did elsewhere was a mystery.
“He said he had a tourism business but no one ever saw him at the job,” Izzy says. “No one really knows where he came from.
“He told us his parents died when he was younger and that’s when he moved to Australia. I’m actually acting as his next-of-kin. I think we’ll find out more as the police track down his family.”
Well, at least his family that aren’t at Miami pool.
“He was the kind of guy who was loved by everyone,” Olympian Andrew Baildon recalled. “He was always so upbeat, postive and happy. He never had a bad word to say about anyone.
“Our entire house was very sad (when we heard the news), reflecting on the moments we shared with Freddy. It’s a sad day, just a sad loss.”