Swim Meet

“ú–{Œê

I couldn't swim until I became an adult. I went to swimming school and could do the breast stroke.

I enjoy water sports by the breast stroke.

My distance limit for the crawl was 25meters.

I didn't go to the swimming pool for years. I started again, after watching the NHK program " Let's do the crawl, elegantly"in May of 2006.

In the past I saw a woman doing the crawl with no splash or sound, very elegantly.

I aspired to do so.

I went to the swimming pool almost daily and succeeded at the 1000 m crawl this past December, two weeks later 1500m.

My physical condition improved and my jeans went down one size.

I began learning the butterfly stroke and quickly moved on to the dolphin kick and completed 25m.

But after this I couldn't improve.

When I swim with a strong mind, I can complete 25m, turn, but stop in pain in the middle of the next lap.

Eventhough I couldn't improve my butterfly, in July, I registered for a swim meet in Hachioji city.

The swim meet was held at a 50m swimming pool at Hosei University, near my house, on September 9 th.

I thought if I trained two month more I could stretch my swimming distance, actually just 15m more.

My friends at Higashiasakawa Health and Welfare Center Swimming Pool

Thank you for cheering me on.

I have many great seniors in my pool.

Mr Tanaka Yoshiyuki, wearing yellow cap, 69 old, won 3rd place last year at 50m crawl of 60's group by record 35. 70 sec.

And won 1st place this year by record 34.64 sec.

He improved more than 1 sec by one year.

Mr Harada Koichi, on crutches, is also in his 60's.

He has only one leg.

But he swims faster than me. This years record is 43.80sec.

I admire them.

We shouldn't say " I'm too old to start a new thing"

But in reality -I couldn't !

I made a great effort.

In most swimming pools video taping is prohibited, so I went to the sea many times to tape and check my form.

My butterfly stroke in the sea

However I felt I was getting worse,

The needed 15m was too far.

At the meet, I was exhausted after 25m, so at that point I changed to " One hand butterfly strokes". It is easer than both hands.

I compleated 50m.

But I was disqualified. I didn't know one handed was illegal.

My unofficial record was 1 minute 7.58 seconds.

My wife arrived late, so I'm sorry we have no video.

One week after the meet I succeed at 50m butterfly.

I got a free one point lecture, 10 min, from a swimming teacher , a young girl with pimples.

She said " Try to swim slowly and take move big and deep motions as possible as you can."

Then I did it.

Next year I will not be disqualified.

.

.

Surprisingly, I won the 50m free-style fo the 50's age group !!??

I was the only participant at the age group.

My time was 54.80 second.

I swam with the 60's age group, they had 19 participants, and I came in last.

50m crawl

You can see only me, because of the zoom, but hear the other swimmer's making the sound of quick strokes.near my "slow and elegant?" swimming.

Even though I was still swimming, they announced the next group.

.

Certification of winning

50's age group-men 50m free-style, 54.80 seconds

1st place Tanaka Tetsuro

We present this certificate to you at the 61st Annual Hachioji City Sports Event Swimming Meet as a prize for you win.

Date Sept 9, 2007

Hachioji City Sports Event President

Mayor Kurosu Ryuichi

Non-profit Organization Hachioji City Physical Association

President Sawamoto Norio

2007.9.10