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Tsunami Saipan: Thank you Hyatt
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Posted on Dec 24 2018
Swimming Center Tsunami Saipan members pose at the façade of the Hyatt Regency Saipan before heading to the pool to start their training session last week. (Contributed Photo)
Swimming Center Tsunami Saipan’s Nelson Batallones set personal best times in the 14th FINA World Championships held at the Hangzhou Olympic and International Expo Center in China early this month.
He made the achievement more than two months after the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool in Marpi shut down, leaving Batallones and hundred other swimmers on island without an appropriate venue for training sessions. Despite the facility closure, Batallones and his teammates at Tsunami Saipan continue to hold practices, thanks to Hyatt Regency Saipan, who welcomed the club with open arms.
“The Kan Pacific pool closed last Sept. 30 so we lost the pool after that. Then before Super Typhoon Yutu, we practiced at the pool of Pacific Islands Club. However, PIC sustained huge damage from Yutu, so we lost a practice pool, again. After Yutu, I went out and asked others to let us use their pool temporarily. However, their pools also suffered damages,” Tsunami Saipan coach Hiro Kimura said.
“Then came Hyatt Regency Saipan—they let us use their pool. We, especially the swimmers, were very happy that Hyatt immediately responded to our request. They allowed us to set lanes and add lights because we still swim after sunset,” Kimura said.
The Tsunami Saipan added that without the Hyatt pool, Batallones won’t be able to prepare well for the world championships.
“Our team captain, Nelson Batallones, could not drop times (50m and 100m butterfly events) in the world championships if he did not practice a lot. Without Hyatt Regency Saipan’s kindness, Nelson wouldn’t have enough time to train for the competition. We keep brushing up four strokes and turn techniques, and swimming faster and straight. We can’t improve these techniques without practicing at the pool,” the Tsunami Saipan coach added.
“We deeply appreciate Hyatt Regency Saipan’s generosity. Thank you to all the lifeguards, cleaning staff, and all managers, especially general manager Nick Nishikawa,” Kimura said.
