THE Northern Marianas Swimming Federation will send swimmers to the world junior championships which will be held this year in Lima, Peru from Aug. 30 to Sept. 5.
Local swimmers Savita Sikkel and Jinie Thompson pose for a photo while displaying the CNMI flag. They have been selected to compete in the Eighth World Junior Swimming Championships in Lima, Peru from Aug. 30 to Sept. 5.
NMSF selected three local swimmers to represent the CNMI: Jinie Thompson, Savita Sikkel and Anthony Deleon Guerrero. But Deleon Guerrero pulled out at the last minute due to previous travel arrangements.
Thompson, Sikkel and NMSF are now trying to raise funds to pay for the two swimmers’ trip to Peru.
According to swim coach Richard Sikkel, who will accompany the CNMI swimmers, the international federation, FINA, will provide some subsidy, but it’s not enough.
Securing funding has been a bit of a challenge, he added.
In the world junior championships, the swimmers are not limited to a maximum of two events which means that Thomspon and Sikkel will participate in five events to maximize their time in the competition pool.
“This is a great opportunity for them to get as much competition pool time as possible,” Coach Sikkel said.
The NMI swimmers aim to compete in the 50m and 100m freestyle, 50m and 100m backstroke, and the 50m butterfly.
