5 CNMI swimmers off to Qatar

From left, Christian Villacrusis, David Boyer, Angel De Jesus, Takumi Sugie, and Victoria Chentsova pose for a group photo after competing in the SSC All Schools Swimming Championships early this month at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Five CNMI swimmers are leaving for Doha, Qatar later this month to represent the Commonwealth in two events.

Victoria Chentsova, Christian Villacrusis, and Takumi Sugie will compete for the CNMI in the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25M), while Angel De Jesus and David Boyer will attend the tournament’s youth program. Both events are set from Dec. 3 to 7 at Doha’s Hamad Aquatic Centre. Saipan Swim Club’s Jacoby Winkfield will coach the three swimmers in the short course meet, while SSC founder Bill Sakovich will join De Jesus and Boyer in the youth program, and Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation head John Hirsh will attend the FINA Congress and other events.

The youth program is a first for FINA and is for athletes in the 14 to 16 age group. According to the event’s press release, participants will attend lectures and workshops in sport science and technical/training matters and the finals of the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships. Todd Schmitz, the U.S. 2012 Olympic swim coach and mentor of four-time Olympic champion Missy Franklin, is the lecturer of the youth program.

“I’m pretty excited with this great opportunity. I will try to share to my fellow CNMI swimmer whatever I will learn from the program,” De Jesus said.

For his part, Boyer said he will make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime chance, focus well on each lecture and listen to people who will give them lessons. He added he is dedicating this trip to his mom, Lauri, who at times when he wants to quit swimming encourages him to stay in the sport.

The three other CNMI bets will gun for fast times and try to learn from the swimmers they are competing against. All three have two events each in the five-day tournament with Chentsova entered in the 400m and 800m freestyle, Villacrusis in the 100m breaststroke and 100m freestyle, and Sugie in the 50m and 100m freestyle.

“This is a short course meet, so it’s going to be a bit harder to get a fast time. However, I will give everything I got in my races,” said Chentsova, who is no stranger to top tournaments like the FINA championships, as she had been to two previous world meets.

“In a big tournament like this, I get really nervous so I know Christian and Takumi will feel the same way. However, the important thing is you have to keep your confidence and focus. Focus on the task at hand and swim against yourself not against others,” Chentsova said.

Both Villacrusis and Sugie took Chentsova’s advice, saying they will go to the pool with confidence and aim for best times and when not competing they will watch how other swimmers race so they could learn a thing or two from them.

Meanwhile, Winkfield reminded the five swimmers that they are ambassadors of the CNMI so they must represent the Commonwealth well in Qatar.

“This event is just more than swimming. This gives them the opportunity to show the world what CNMI athletes are made of. They must show that CNMI athletes are respectful, friendly, and hardworking. Most of the people going to Qatar may not have a clue where CNMI, so it’s important for them to leave a good impression in the tournament by behaving well on and off the pool,” Winkfield said.

Hirsh added the CNMI through NMISF is thankful to FINA for the invitation both in the championships and the program.

“It’s an honor and privilege to get invited to these great events. FINA is really focused on giving everybody a chance to compete and take advantage of the youth program. Even us, officials, will get a chance to learn a lot from the events in Doha because FINA will also hold the congress there, have the coaches clinic, and host a convention for distributors of swimming equipment. We’re very thankful to FINA for these opportunities,” Hirsh said.