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Japanese Jr. national swimmers train with Tsunami Saipan
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Posted on Mar 26 2008
Three members of the Japanese Junior National Swimming Team were recently on island and trained with the standouts of the Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool in Marpi.
Tsunami Saipan head coach Hiro Kimura said Sachiyo Noshita, Sayuna Sugiyama, and Yayoi Matsumoto spend two weeks on Saipan before leaving for the Land of the Rising Sun last Monday, March 24.
All three are members of the Shizuoka Swimming Federation. Noshita, 14, is the 2007 Junior Olympic champion in Japan, while 15-year-old Sugiyama is a Junior National Record holder in their country. Matsumoto is the oldest at 17 years old and is the 2007 Japanese high school champion.
Kimura added that all three Japan Junior National Swimming Team members stayed at the Marianas Resort and Spa along with their coaches. Noshita, Sugiyama, and Matsumoto trained at least thrice a day with some practices lasting two and a half hours.
“It was so exciting to have them swim with our very own swimmers from Tsunami Saipan because all three girls are candidates for the 2008 Beijing Olympics or the 2012 London Olympics. It is sure they will go to the Olympics as representatives of Japan someday.
The Tsunami Saipan coach said Noshita, Sugiyama, and Matsumoto seemed to have developed a liking for Saipan after also coming here late last year. Kimura said it is very possible that the island would become an annual training venue for them.
“They also have been here last December to practice. They love Saipan very much and hope to come back again.”
Tsunami Saipan swimmers that trained with the future Japanese Olympians were local club’s mainstays Marystar Welch, Rezne Wong, and brothers Kensuke and Shin Kimura.
In other news, Tsunami Saipan announced that the April session for beginner Red Cross lessons at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan have all been filed up. The next session of beginner swim lessons is set for the summer.
