Swimmers haul back 19 medals from Guam

The CNMI’s swimming future looks bright as attested by Tsunami Swimming Center Saipan’s successful campaign in the 2008 Guam Short Course Championships held last Saturday at the Hagatna Pool in Guam.

Tsunami Saipan head coach Hiro Kimura said the club’s eight young swimmers took home a total of 19 medals from the swim meet.

Leading the way for the club was 8-year-old Kaito Yanai who bagged five medals—four gold and one silver en route to finishing third place overall in his division.

The Garapan Elementary School student was the first to touch the tile in the 25m breaststroke, 50m breaststroke, and 100m individual medley. He also struck gold as part of the 100m freestyle relay team. He won second place in the 25m backstroke

Another 8-year-old, Daisuke Fitial, also made waves in the pool, winning gold medals in the 25m freestyle as well as in the boys’ 100m freestyle relay. He also added four silver medals in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 25m butterfly, and 50m butterfly to finish second in the High Points race.

Yanai’s and Fitial’s teammate in the gold-medal winning boys’ 100m freestyle relay team, 7-year-old Ryosei Toda, also was a multiple gold medal winner as he came in first in the 25m backstroke. He also added a silver in the 25m breaststroke and a bronze in the 50m breaststroke for good measure.

The team’s oldest swimmer and the only rose among the thorns, 12-year-old Fumika Umeda, also gave a good account of herself, winning a bronze in the 50m breaststroke. That was quite an achievement for her, according to Kimura, considering Umeda only started swimming last September.

Last but not the least, 11-year-old Kaisei Toda finished fourth in his age group after collecting a silver in the 200m and a bronze in the 50m breaststroke.

Joining Yanai, Fitial, and Ryosei Toda in the victorious boys’ 100m freestyle relay team was 8-year-old Kosei Toda.

Nine-year-olds Takumi Sugie and Ritsuki Umeda round out the eight-member team to the Guam Short Course Championships.

Kimura said aside from the competition, his kids were also able to practice with members of Tsunami Guam at the Leo Palace Resort on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

Another Tsunami Saipan member, Rezne Wong, also flew in with the group to Guam and competed in the GSF All Island Invitational Swim Meet Saturday morning. Results of his competition will be published in tomorrow’s issue of the Saipan Tribune.