MAJURO – An American Olympic medalist will kick off a three-week tour of Micronesia when he arrives in Majuro on April 13.
Olympic swimmer and silver medalist Chad Carvin will conduct an island-hopping tour of the Micronesian area to promote swimming and to speak with Micronesian youth and athletes about international level competition.
“This will be a rare opportunity for Micronesian youth to meet and speak with an Olympian about training, sports in general and the Olympic Games,” said Bill Sakovich, the Saipan-based chairman of the Micronesian Games Council.
Carvin, who won a silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Australia as part of the American 800 meter freestyle relay team, is still competing. In late March, he competed in the US National Spring Championship in Minnesota, taking second place in the 400 meter freestyle competition.
In 1997, he became only the second person to win four individual titles at the US national swimming competition since world renowned swimmer Mark Spitz did it in 1972. Last year, he was ranked 6th in the world in the 800 meter freestyle event.
In addition to stopping in Majuro and Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, Carvin will also visit Kosrae, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Palau, Yap, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. With the exception of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, most islands have relatively small – or no – competitive swimming programs.
Carvin will visit Saipan from May 4-8.
