30 Jul Oceanic Athletes Make Waves at The World Aquatics Championships: Record-Breaking Weekend in Fukuoka, Japan
In an exhilarating display of aquatic prowess, the latest edition of The World Aquatics Championships held in Fukuoka, Japan saw impressive performances from athletes representing the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI), Guam, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
The men’s 100m butterfly was a high point, as NMI’s Isaiah Aleksenko stormed the first heat with an impressive win, clocking a time of 54.46 seconds. Meanwhile, in the second heat, Guam’s Jimi Hendrix secured a second-place finish with a new personal record of 57.65 seconds.
The women’s 50m butterfly saw FSM’s Taeyanna Adams clocking 32.53 seconds, while Maria Corazon Batallones from the NMI followed closely with a time of 33.49 seconds, securing the second and third places in their respective heats.
The final day of competition began with the women’s 50m freestyle. NMI’s Shoko Litulumar took the third spot in the second heat with a time of 30.55 seconds. However, it was Guam’s Mia Lee who stole the show in the fourth heat, clinching first place with a time of 27.54 seconds. This swim set a new national record and a new record for the 15-16 age group in Guam, outdoing Manami Iijima’s 2008 record and surpassing her own record from 2022. Also in the fourth heat, Kestra Kihleng of the FSM secured third place with a time of 29.17 seconds, setting a personal best and a new national record for FSM, previously held by Margie Winter since 2019.
The high-stakes 50m breaststroke saw Maria Corazon Batallones from the NMI earning third place with a time of 35.96 seconds, and FSM’s Kestra Kihleng in fourth with a 36.55-second finish.
The climactic ending was the 4 x 100 freestyle relays. The FSM team, consisting of Taeyanna Adams, Tasi Limtiaco, Kyler Kihleng, and anchor Kestra Kihleng, achieved a commendable time of 4:03.87. The NMI team comprising Isaiah Aleksenko, Anthony “Jakey” de Leon Guerrero, Shoko Litulumar, and anchor Maria Batallones, were hot on their heels, clocking a time of 4:05.62. However, it was Team Guam, led by Jimi Hendrix and followed by Mia Lee, Amaya Bollinger, and Israel Poppe as the anchor, that secured the victory, with an outstanding finishing time of 3:54.54.
This weekend at the World Aquatics Championships was a testament to the burgeoning talent in the region, with athletes not just challenging their limits but also breaking records. As we close another chapter of this aquatic spectacle, we anticipate more exceptional performances and exciting competition from these nations in the future.
Brief History of the prestigious, World Aquatics Championships.
The World Aquatics Championships, formerly known as the FINA World Championships until 2022, is an illustrious global competition. It showcases the world’s finest athletes in six aquatic sports: swimming, diving, high diving, open water swimming, artistic swimming, and water polo. Originating in 1973 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, this prestigious event is now held biennially. Each event has since been contested in a long course (50-meter) pool, distinguishing it from the separate short course (25-meter) championships, usually held in winter.
Despite historically being held every four years from 1978 to 1998, in the even years between Summer Olympic years, the Championships adopted a biennial schedule since 2001, occurring in odd years. However, the unprecedented effects of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated significant rescheduling between 2019 and 2025, with an extraordinary sequence of Championships planned for four consecutive years from 2022 to 2025 — a first in the event’s history.
These Championships, hosted by Budapest, Hungary; Fukuoka, Japan; Doha, Qatar; and Kallang, Singapore, respectively, ensure that there will be no significant gaps in this iconic global competition. This means that within four years (mid-2021 to mid-2025), six global championships will take place. The regular cycle resumes with Budapest once again hosting the event in 2027.
A testament to its global reach and prestige, the Championships welcome athletes from all 209 World Aquatics member countries. The 2019 edition saw record-breaking participation, with 192 member countries and an impressive turnout of 2,623 athletes, emphasizing the World Aquatics Championships as a prominent stage for the sport and a pinnacle of achievement for its competitors.