Japanese American Sports Hall of Fame

Ann Kiyomura Hayashi

Wimbledon Champion

The first Asian American female to win a Wimbledon title. Attained the Women’s Doubles title (1975), Junior Wimbledon Single’s title and 14 National Junior Tennis titles.

Tommy Kono

Olympic Weightlifting Hall of Famer

The first Asian American world-class weightlifter, winning Olympic gold medals in three weight classes from 1952-1960 (two gold and one silver medal). Holds 26 Olympic World records, eight world titles, seven world records and three Mr. Universe titles. Inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1990.

Wat Misaka

Professional Basketball Player

In 1944, led the University of Utah basketball team to an NCAA title championship and an NIT Championship in 1947. He went on to become the first person of color to be drafted in the first round by the NBA’s New York Knickerbockers.

Kristi Yamaguchi

Olympic Ice Skating Gold Medallist

The first women of color to win the Olympic gold medal in figure skating (1992), two-time world champion, three-time U.S. National and four-time World Professional champion. Inducted into the World and U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Wally Yonamine

Professional Football and Baseball Player

The first Asian American to be drafted into professional football and the first person of color to play for the San Francisco 49ers. Later Wally played for the Japanese Baseball League’s Yomiuri Giants and was the first American inducted into the Japanese Hall of Fame for excellence in baseball.

Grace Nakai

San Francisco Enchantees Girls' Basketball Club

Grace Nakai received the Community Sports Hero Award for her work in founding the Enchantees Girls’ Basketball Club. Grace participated in sports actively throughout her life which included coaching the Enchantees until 1984. Today, the organization continues to foster the principles which Grace brought forth for Japanese American youth to engage in fair play on the basketball court.

Golden Gate Optimist Club

Founded by a group of Japanese American businessmen in 1955, the club sponsors and supports a multitude of sporting activities and programs for local youth. One of the earliest goals of the club was to encourage Japanese American youth to participate in baseball leagues instilling the ethics of teamwork, fellowship and sportsmanship, and most importantly to simply have fun.