THE NMI national swimming team participated recently in the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary with Juhn Tenorio breaking two local records.
In an email interview, NMI Coach Richard Sikkel said the local team’s “spirit and attitude were great.”
With no proper training facility for NMI swimmers back home, Coach Sikkel said it took a little getting used for the team to swim 50-meter laps again, but the facilities at the Duna Arena had three 50m pools at their disposal which provided ample practice opportunity.
“All the NMI athletes came to Budapest ready to swim their best times and they did just that — all four of them swam personal bests in each of their individual events,” Coach Sikkel said.
Taiyo Akimaru participated in the 50m butterfly, and posted a very respectable time of 27.85. A few days later, he followed it up with a 50 free swim of 26.02. Juhn Tenorio posted a 1:00.93 and a 28.18 in the 100 back and 50 back respectively.
“Both times are good enough for [NMI] national and 17-18 age groups records,” Coach Sikkel said.
Maria Batallones, the youngest member of the team at 14-years-old, swam a good 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:26.01 and improved on her 50m time a few days later by clocking 37.77.
Maria’s time of 37.77 broke the 25-year-old Jennifer Pierce’s 13-14 age group record of 37.81.
Jinie Thompson was the last of the NMI swimmers to get in the water. She saw action in the 100m and 50m free and posted times of 1:10.31 and 31.36.
In addition to the individual events, the NMI team recorded national records in the mixed 4 x 100 free (4:12.95) and the mixed medley relay (4:37.91).
“The goal of sending swimmers to the world championships is to provide them with an opportunity to experience competition and represent the NMI at the highest level,” Coach Sikkel said. “These swimmers will learn so much and gain so much experience and ideally will bring that experience back to the NMI to enrich and strengthen the local swimming community by teaching, motivating, and encouraging other swimmers to continue to work hard and reach their highest potential.”
NMI swimmers Taiyo Akimaru, Maria Battalones, Juhn Tenorio and Jinie Thompson, along with Coach Ally, are among the spectators in a 2022 FINA World Championships event in Budapest, Hungary.
