Swimmers finally get some pool time

CNMI national swimmers Jinnosuke Suzuki, Juhn Tenorio, and sisters Shoko and Asaka Litulumar pose inside the Etihad Arena, the site of the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The CNMI National Swimming Team finally got some practice time in an actual swimming pool as they start their campaign in the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Jinnosuke Suzuki, Juhn Tenorio, and sisters Shoko and Asaka Litulumar, along with national coach Hiroyuki Kimura and Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation representatives Richard Sikkel and Hiroko Tenorio, arrived in the UAE last Monday and all are expected to attend the opening ceremonies set for today at the cavernous Etihad Arena in Yas Bay, Yas Island.

To say the CNMI swimmers are excited to compete in the world stage is an understatement, as they themselves expressed their awe in getting the opportunity to represent the CNMI in the world championships.

“So far this has been a very good experience because I have never been at an event this big. It feels good to swim in an actual competition pool because it makes me feel better when I swim,” said Suzuki.

Tenorio seconded Suzuki but added that he wishes the CNMI will someday have an Olympic-size pool again.

“I feel very grateful and happy to experience this type of stage. Makes me wish I really had a pool back home. Not this size but an actual pool. I feel like we can get faster and faster if we had a pool back home. We were all nervous at first but I had a good feeling when I first got into the water and swam 25 meters for the first time in two years. I am excited for the results and depending on the results I hope some kind of action will be taken toward making a pool back home,” he said.

Shoko Litulumar can’t help but become a fan in the presence of swimmers she looks up to.

“The experience in Abu Dhabi so far is amazing. I’ve met the swimmers I admired and seeing fast people made my heart pound. I feel excited for the coming meet!”

She also felt some nostalgia for the old Kan Pacific Swimming Pool in Marpi after first gazing on the 25m pool in Abu Dhabi.

CNMI swimmers pose with Japan’s Daiya Seto, the gold medalist of last FINA short course meet and world record-holder. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

“The feeling of swimming in an actual pool is amazing. The pool is very clear, there are diving blocks, and there was the nostalgic lane line that made up my childhood swimming. I am very excited for the upcoming meet!” she said.

Her sister Asaka, meanwhile, seems to be all business preparing for the world championships.

“My experience is good so far. I have been working for this moment and I’m happy to be in Abu Dhabi. I feel excited to be back in a 25m pool! It has been a long time since I’ve been in one, so I can’t wait to compete.”

Sikkel said the team has been taken cared off very well by their hosts in the UAE.

“The team has been in the pool twice. Food is awesome and we have two practice slots per day. Lots of things to see for them and in awe of the height of some of the competition.”

He added that it’s normal for CNMI swimmers to hold some reverence for the top swimmers they only used to watch in the Olympics and other international competitions.

“The FINA World Championships is like a rock concert for swimming. It is quite the spectacle. Teams from all over the world participate. Swimming powerhouses like the U.S. and China are here and at the same time there are a lot of tiny nations from all over the world represented here. It is a great opportunity for our developing swimmers to see a whole new level of competition,” said Sikkel.

No CNMI swimmer will compete in Day 1 of the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships. All swimmers will see action in Day 2 tomorrow with Suzuki and Asaka Litulumar competing in the 200m freestyle and 100m freestyle, respectively. Tenorio then follows with the preliminaries of the 100m backstroke and the 50m backstroke for Shoko Litulumar. All four will then compete in the 4x50m freestyle mixed.

Tenorio plunges into the pool again on Saturday in the 50m freestyle with the whole team competing in the 4x50m medley mixed later in the afternoon.

Shoko Litulumar sees action in the 50 backstroke on Sunday. Suzuki and Asaka Litulumar return to action on Monday in the 100m freestyle and 50m freestyle, respectively.