Swimmers set sights for Fukuoka

From left, Jinnosuke Suzuki, Juhn Tenorio and Asaka and Shoko Litulumar play tourist at the Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi after taking part in the 15th FINA World Swimming Championship. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Fresh from their first international competition in years, the CNMI National Swimming Team will now be training its sights on the 19th FINA World Championships 2022 in Fukuoka, Japan in May 2022.

Specifically, CNMI national swimming coach Hiroyuki Kimura said Juhn Tenorio and Jinnosuke Suzuki are ready to take the next leap in the long course meet set from May 13 to 29 in the Land of the Rising Sun.

“Juhn’s time and Jinnosuke’s time are so amazing. But it’s not so surprising because their target is to go A-Final in the bigger regional championships than the Micronesian Games. It’s like the Pacific Games or Oceania Championships! This two boys are already aiming to improve their times in the 19th FINA World Championships 2022.”

Kimura said Tenorio and Suzuki’s performances in the 15th FINA World Swimming Championship held from Dec. 16 to 21 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates were simply spectacular.

“Juhn’s 50m freestyle and 100m backstroke is faster than CNMI national record time. Jinnosuke’s 100m freestyle and 200m freestyle is faster than the CNMI 15-16 age group record,” he said.

As for the rest of the CNMI team, the Tsunami Saipan Swimming Center coach said like Tenorio and Suzuki, Asaka and Shoko Litulumar also performed well and set personal best times in the events they swam in.

“First, all member broke their personal best time. Updating personal best time is mandatory for the team because their personal best time was performed more than two years ago. All also promised to further improve as well as share their experience from the short course meet,” he said.

In particular, Kimura said Asaka’s 50m freestyle time is faster than Taeyanna Adams of Pohnpei’s gold medal swim of 30.26 in the 2019 Micronesian Swimming Championships.

He added that Shoko’s 50m backstroke was also faster than the 34.25 set by no less than her teammate, Aika Watanabe, in the 2019 Micronesian Swimming Championships.

Jinnosuke Suzuki, Juhn Tenorio and Asaka and Shoko Litulumar ride camels at the Liwa Desert after taking part in the 15th FINA World Swimming Championship in Abu Dhabi. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

“Shoko’s time is faster than the Federated States of Micronesia national record,” he added.

Kimura said with or without an official pool he believes these four swimmers and the rest of yhe CNMI’s up-and-coming swimmers can still improve with the proper training and attitude.

“As I said repeatedly, there is no relationship between good facility and improvement. However, the average level of younger swimmers can be brought up with training at an official pool. It means that it will lead to raising the total swimmer’s level.”

Overall, Kimura said the level of swimming in the CNMI has improved considerably, but he admit there are still areas that need improvement.

“Several events are still inferior, depending on the discipline and gender. In particular, female [swimmers] are not as high level as male [swimmers]. We need further strengthening and training of younger female swimmers as well.”

Lastly, Kimura thanked the Northern Marianas Swimming Federation for all its support in sending Tenorio, Suzuki, and the Litulumar sisters to the short course championships in Abu Dhabi.

“The fantastic result of this team is a great achievement and we share it with the federation and with NMSF representatives Richard [Sikkel] and Hiroko [Tenorio] who went with us in Abu Dhabi. Thanks to them for taking care of everything from travel coordination to working with FINA and the meet organizer. Because of their help I was able to concentrate on swimmers. I believe the great result in this meet was the victory of the entire delegation.”