NMI Swim Team’s Maria Guerrero, Justin Ma, Moshe Sikkel and coach Richard Sikkel pose for a group photo before their debut race in the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships 2025 at the Aquatics Complex in Otopeni, Romania on Tuesday.
Contributed photo
THE NMI Swim Team is off to a strong start at the World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships 2025, as Moshe Sikkel and Maria Guerrero set new records in the 100m backstroke on Tuesday at the Aquatics Complex in Otopeni, Romania.
Sikkel impressed in his debut in the men’s 100m backstroke, finishing fourth in heat 3 with a time of 1:03.22 — 1.45 seconds behind the lead swimmer. Not only did the 16-year-old deliver a strong performance in his heat, but his hard training paid off as he set a new NMI record in the 15–16 age group.
Sikkel’s campaign is far from over. He is set to compete in the men’s 50m backstroke and 50m freestyle today, Thursday, before closing with the men’s 200m backstroke on Sunday.
Sharing the spotlight was teammate Maria Guerrero, who delivered a similar result in her debut in the women’s 100m backstroke. She placed fourth in heat 1 with a time of 1:15.69. Although the 14-year-old did not set a new age-group record, she achieved a personal best.
Guerrero will have more chances to improve her times as she takes on the women’s 50m butterfly today, Thursday, the 50m backstroke on Friday, and the 50m freestyle on Saturday.
