Updated: August 2, 2009, 12:14 PM ET
FINA vice president Furuhashi dies
ROME -- Swimming's governing body says FINA vice president Hironoshin Furuhashi has died at 80.
He was in Rome for the world championships and the swimming organization said Sunday he died in his sleep. No cause of death was given.
FINA president Julio Maglione called Furuhashi a "very kind and pleasant man." A minute of silence was to be observed Sunday night during the final session of the championships.
Known as "the Flying Fish," Furuhashi was one of Japan's first great swimmers, setting several world records in 1949. He later helped organize the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo and became president of Japan's Olympic committee and swimming federation.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
