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Show oals Young onolulu Sw-immer Trains Daily With High Hopes Of Promising Career HONOLULU-The name Nadine Takai may not be among American swim team members in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea but if it isn't, it is not because of the lack of effort on her part. For the past two years, the 16-year-old junior at Pearl City High School has captained her team to consectutive runnerup spots in the Oahu Interscholastic Association and state championship meets and has established n1ost of the individual state prep school records. She started setting new standards early, setting new records in the 200 and 500 meter freestyle as a freshman. Getting started early is nothing new for Nadine. She began swimming at the age of eight. · Her schedule during the school year is enough to tire an average person just reading about her training regimen. She gets up before dawn at 5 a.m. and is in the pool · at the University of Hawaii by 5: 30. She swims until 7: 15 and then travels back Season's Grefltings Contemporary Asian Art M.M. SHINNO GALLERY 5820 Wilshire Blvd., L.A., CA 90036 (213) 935-1010 11-S lues-Sat. ~~;;;~days PRINTING CO. 309 SOUIH SAN PEDRO SIREET LOS ANGELES 90013 (213) 626-8153 Membership Publication of the Japanese American Citizens League 941 E. 3rd St. No. 200 Los Angeles, CA 90013- (213) 626-6936 to Pearl City High. Class time is from 8 to 2: 20 p.m. and then she rushes home for a quick snack befo·re heading back to the UH pool for an afternoon session. After stretching exercises from 3: 30 to about 3: 45. she is back in the pool again until6 p.m. to 6:30p.m. -After that its into the weight room for about an hour. She arrives home at 7: 15. 'The next day and the day after that and for days unending, she maintains the schedule. Does she worry about getting burned out? "Sometimes I wonder why I'm swimming," she says, but quickly adds, "but I know I'd feel lost without swimming. It helps me get motivated .. . helps me to accomplish things ... makes me strive for things ." Of course , Nad-ine has some diversionary interests . including ''going to the movies after practice on Fridays, dancing and partying like any other teenager ... and going to the beach," which she does frequently except during the last two weeks before a major competition event. "My coach Brian Lee restricts us from the beach and sun." At 5-2, 115-pounds, Nadine prefers the long cour se ." Because of my size, most of my ta ller competitors have an advantage over · me in the short course," she says. Nadine, in addition to her athletic success, has also been a top achiever in academics. She had a 4.0 grade point average ,as a freshman but is now a 3.5; outstanding by anyone's standards but she is not satisfied. "I missed a lot of classes last year because of competing and when I needed therapy for an injured knee,'' she explained regarding her slight drop in grade average. Nadine hopes to· continue her college education in · California a desire which should bring recruiters banging on her Pearl City home. "I just love California," she said, adding ·that she would like to major in sports medicine. Her love for California was developed during her frequent trips for national swimming meets . . Her coach encourages her to travel to the mainland for competition due to the lack of local swimmers with her ability to push her. She-thinks the academic eligibility rule for extracurricular activities such Nadine Takai With Room Full Of Trophies as sports is good since sports alone won't help a person find success in life. "If I have a lot of homework, I don't go to practice and my coach understands. He knows that education is more important than swimming.' ' She's competed in the U.S. Senior Nationals for the past four years and was selected as a member of the national swim team two ye·ars ago because of her seventh place . finish in the 200 breaststroke in the U.S. Senior National Finals. Last year she won the Waikiki Roughwater Swim Event, when her l.: 04.6 time was the fastest posted for all women, including adults. A local television station selected her as "Hawaii's Super Kid," and soon she may become known to the whole world, as everyone's '' super kid" if she continues her level of progress. Seoul, Korea in '88 may be more than just a dream. Season's Greetings Shibayama· & Karasaw a Group Medical, Dental, Life & Pension . Yosh- Bob- Tony- Carol Tazuko - Bob- Todd Suite 1207 Kajima Building 250 E. 1st St., Los Angeles 90012 • (213) 627-5304 Sincere Holiday Greetings From ~Cjl\!)~ Southern California Japanese American Dental Society The JACL-California Blue Shield Group Health Plan of the Northern California Western Nevada District Council now serving Central California District Council, Pacific Southwest District Council, Pacific Northwest District Council Intermountain District . Council and Mountain Plains District. JACL-CBS GROUP HEALTH PLAN 1765 SUTTER ST. SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115 (415) 931-6633 |
