Japan today is a swimming powerhouse, regularly winning medals in international competition. Through much of the late 20th century, however, the country's swimming stars failed to truly shine on the world stage. As head coach, Koji Ueno helped revive Japan's fortunes through an emphasis on team spirit, while developing a healthy balance of rivalry and camaraderie within the squad. We investigate how Ueno has boosted Japan's performance while easing the pressure burden on individual athletes.