By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

(Second of a series)

PUT yourselves in Rezne Wong, Sarah Johnson and Cooper Graf’s place and compete in the 12th FINA World Championships, battle the world’s best swimmers, witness world record-breaking performances and other historical feats.
Got cold feet?
The three NMI swimmers were decidedly not as they accepted the challenge en route to a fruitful world championship trip.
“In December I laid down the gauntlet before these three swimmers. I challenged them to be at their best during this championship week. I told them they would see some great things and that they would have an opportunity to compete right along with these great athletes,” Saipan Swim Club coach Michael Stewart said in an email to the Variety yesterday.
The world championships held at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Australia was a preview of the 2008 Beijing Olympics with seven-time world championship gold medallist Michael Phelps of the United States leading the elite cast.
But despite being overwhelmed with the second greatest show in the pool next to the Olympics, the three young swimmers managed to focus on their goal, which was to make LTBS.
Johnson was perfect at the world championships having 5-for-5 LTBS. She competed in the 400m freestyle (5:05.03), 200m free (2:23.42), 100m backstroke (1:19.90), 50m breaststroke (37.86 seconds) and the 100m free (31.39 seconds).
Graf was 5-for-6. He joined in the 800m freestyle (10:14.48), 1500m free (19:33.41), 400m free (4:57.26), 200m free (2:22.69) and the 100m free (1:05.75). The only time he failed to set an LTB was in the 50m, when he timed in at 31.78 seconds, just 0.2 of a second behind his best time.
Wong swam in 10 events, probably the most by any swimmer in this year’s world championship, and set six LTBS. He competed in the 400m free (4:36.90), 100m (1:15.95), 50m breaststroke (33.89 seconds), 200m freest (2:12.08), 100m free (58.13 seconds), 200m individual medley (2:20.94), 200m breaststroke (2:34.84), 400m IM (5:10.44), 50m free (27.13 seconds) and 100m butterfly (1:07.01).
“All did a great job in their own right. They exceeded my expectations. But what I liked most is they did not back down from anyone,” said Stewart, who reminded his swimmers to keep their focus at the start of the tournament.
“On Day 1, I felt my job was to help them relax, be confident and perform. I told them not to worry about what was going on around them. ‘Your stage is 8 feet by 50 meters, your lane, focus on your own stage,’” Steward said.
The SSC coach is thankful for what the world championships have done for the three swimmers.
“I think they learned that they are good athletes. They trust their work and are now more confident in themselves, not only in swimming, but in their lives,” Stewart said.
“SSC now has three new leaders who can help take our swim program to the next level,” he added.
Graf, Johnson and Wong will be leading the NMI team to two tournaments in Japan in June and Stewart said the Australian trip was a big boost for them.