Isaiah, Jakey reunite in Fukuoka

Isaiah Aleksenko, left, and Jakey Deleon Guerrero during a recent practice at the Pacific Islands Club Saipan lap pool. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Isaiah Aleksenko will be teaming up with a familiar face in the 20th FINA World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan—former teammate Jakey Deleon Guererro.

National coach Hiroyuki Kimura said Aleksenko and Deleon Guerrero started swimming at almost the same age and the same time under his tutelage at Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan. 

“I found out those young boys’ talent early on, so I trained them to be the two main wheels of the CNMI future. Their first off-island competition was Guam Short Course Championships in 2014. They won a lot of medals and trophies.” 

Since Aleksenko and Deleon Guerrero’s birthdays are a mere six months apart, it was inevitable that they competed against each other in local and even off-island meets. 

“They have participated in the Tokyo Junior Sprint as teammates several times and also participated in a swim camp in Japan. They participated in the Guam Championships every year, and competed with many Guam swim clubs in relay events as teammates.” 

Due to various circumstances, Aleksenko and Deleon Guerrero soon found themselves swimming for different clubs—the former stayed at Tsunami Saipan and the latter moved to Saipan Swim Club.

Isaiah Aleksenko, second from right, and Jakey Deleon Guerrero, right, while competing in the 8-and-under division of the 2014 Guam Short Course Championships.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Kimura couldn’t hide his excitement that the two dynamic swimmers will be swimming together in the 20th FINA World Championships.

“After six years, the reunion is realized under coach Hiro again! Moreover, it will be a meet in Japan that all three of us have been to many times. However, our competition this time has gone from junior competition to the world’s top class competition, the World Championships. I never thought the day would come when I could take Isaiah and Jakey to another meet in Japan. I will do my best coaching to bring out the best performance from the two. They were both 5 years old when we first met. Now, when I see the two of them grow up to be strong young men, I am overwhelmed with emotion!”

Aleksenko said it’s cool that he and Deleon Guerrero are again now part of one team.

“It feels great. We can both talk together about swimming and how to improve ourselves. I’m just happy we can both compete and really show how hard we’ve been training,” he said.

Deleon Guerrero, for his part, said he looks forward to swimming with Aleksenko once again.

“Swimming with Isaiah is awesome because we get to push each other during practice and cheer each other on. Moreover, Isaiah and I are friends both in and out the pool, so training with him is like hanging out with him.”

He also added that he doesn’t actually view Aleksenko as a rival in the pool.

“I never really compete with anyone other than myself. Swimming is an individual sport, and the only thing I have been focusing on is getting a little faster every day. Yes, there are times where I look at other swimmers, including Isaiah, to remind myself that I can’t slack off, but the ultimate competition I have is myself—always has been and always will be.”