Seven swimmers off to Australia

The NMI National Swim Team is ready to make a splash and heading Down Under to the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, in Southport, Queensland, Australia for the Oceania Swimming Championships 2024 from April 21 to 24.

The team is made up of seven swimmers including Taiyo Akimaru, Jinie Thompson, Savita Sikkel, Michael Miller, Nagi Tenorio, Piper Raho, and Moshe Sikkel. They are joined by coach Richard Sikkel and Christian Villacrusis.

Akimaru’s events are the 50m butterfly, 100m breaststroke, 50m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, and 50m freestyle.

Thompson’s events include the 50m butterfly, 50m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley, and 50m freestyle.

Savita’s events consist of the 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, and the 50m freestyle.

For Miller, he’s competing in the 200m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 50m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, and the 200m individual medley.

Tenorio is taking on the 50m butterfly, 100m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 50m breaststroke, and the 50m freestyle.

Raho’s events are the 100m backstroke, 50m backstroke, 200m backstroke, and the 50m freestyle.

And for Moshe, he’s competing in the 100m backstroke, 50m backstroke, 200m backstroke, and the 50m freestyle.

Coach Sikkel said since their return from the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands, the swimmers have trained for the championships. He said, “We are hoping to make finals in several events and possibly an age group record.”

“Events like this are another great learning experience for even bigger events. We saw a lot of growth in our group after the [Pacific Games] and we expect the same here,” said Sikkel.

While in Australia, he and Villacrusis will attend the World Aquatics Coaching certification.

He thanked the Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation for providing the team the opportunity to represent the NMI in Australia. He also gave a big thanks to everyone who supported the team with their carwash fundraiser, gave thanks to their home pool at the Pacific Islands Club Saipan for their place to train, and Aqua Resort Club for allowing them to practice their dives in their pool.

The next major event for NMI swimmers is the 2024 Micronesian Games in Majuro, Marshall Islands from June 15-24.