Hiro glad to return as national coach

CNMI National Swimming Team Hiroyuki Kimura, center, poses with national swimmers Jinnosuke Suzuki, Juhn Tenorio, and sisters Asaka and Shoko Litulumar days prior to leaving for the 2021 FINA World Swimming Championships set from Dec. 16 to 21 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

For Hiroyuki Kimura, the 2021 FINA World Swimming Championships set from Dec. 16 to 21 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates marks his return to head coaching duties for the CNMI National Swimming Team.

“Since 2014, I didn’t have any experience in the CNMI national team as head coach any more. The 2021 FINA World Swimming Championships is my return as head coach after eight years,” he said before leaving with Northern Marianas Swimming Federation representative Richard Sikkel and national swimmers Jinnosuke Suzuki, Juhn Tenorio, and sisters Asaka and Shoko Litulumar for the UAE yesterday.

Before 2014, Kimura had five separate stints as head coach for the CNMI national swimming team.

He made his debut in the 2009 Junior Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Guam as coach of the men’s relay team. Prior to that the CNMI never participated in a single gender relay at the Junior Pan Pacific. It was a historic first step for CNMI swimming. In addition, two CNMI records were broken with Rezne Wong advancing to the A Final, also a first for the Commonwealth.

Next came the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, Italy where he coached the team to 12 CNMI records. It also marked the men’s male relay team’s debut in World Championships.

In the 2010 Micronesian Games in Palau, Kimura coached the men’s team to a sweep of all gold medals. It was the first time in the history of the Micro Games that one country, regardless of gender, won all the gold. The 2010 Micro Games also saw the CNMI swimmers break nine national records.

Kimura coached Team CNMI in the FINA World Cup in 2011 in his home country of Japan. In the Tokyo meet, CNMI swimmer Kai Staal broke the 24-second barrier in the 50m freestyle.

Prior to this year’s FINA World Championships in Abu Dhabi, Kimura’s last stint as head coach of the national team was in 2014 in the 2014 Oceania Championships in Auckland, New Zealand. It was a memorable time for Kimura as his son, Kensuke, became the first CNMI medalist (bronze) at the Oceania Championships. It also saw swimmers from the CNMI break three national records.

Asked what makes him continue coaching long before his sons graduated from Tsunami Saipan Swimming Center, where he and his wife, Yuko, coach, Kimura had this answer: “For some adults, they want to spend their private time playing golf, riding a bike, or drinking beer, etc. For me, my relax time is to stay with young swimmers at the pool. It is my style to spending my private time. I love teaching kids how to swim that’s all!”

Kimura added that aside from teaching swimming, he also has a wide network of swimming coaches around the world.

“I have huge connection with coaches in the world. I’m Japanese, but not only communicate with Japanese coaches, but also with coaches from the U.S., Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and so on. But I do create our training program and workouts by myself. They are my original workouts,” he said.

Kimura also thanked Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation, especially its president Colin Thompson and vice president John Hirsh for facilitating the national team’s stint to the 2021 FINA World Swimming Championships.

“There are so many paperwork involved and it was really troublesome because of COVID-19. All the preparations up to the departure were done quickly and accurately by the federation. Thanks to them I was able to focus in training our swimmers until the day of departure. Federation members Richard Sikkel and Hiroko Tenorio will also be going to Abu Dhabi with us as team leader and team manager. They also helped with the paperwork and setting up our itinerary.”

The national swimming coach also extended his gratitude to everyone who helped the national team prepare for the swimming championships.

“The national team kept training by using a private pool. We really appreciate the owner and the family for letting us use their private space in spite of current hard situation. Thanks also to Aqua Resort Club, Island Apparel, Saipan Apparel, 500 Sails, Saipan Swim Club, and SSC coach Richard Sikkel. One of the parents of Tsunami Saipan also donated 100 pieces KF94 mask which is said to be the best mask in the world.”

Last but not the least, Kimura also have kudos to his wife.

“To Tsunami Saipan team manager and all our swimmers’ mom and my wife Yuko Kimura, thank you so much for supporting us in this trip. I never feel worried for my club, Tsunami Saipan, when we go off-island because she will always be there to handle the team in my absence. Captain (Tenorio), vice-captain (Suzuki), and also girls leaders (Litulumars) will also be absent, so it’s very difficult. We will try our best and send Yuko good news from Abu Dhabi.”