JUSTADDWATER:KenBarcinas

Borrowed from the PacificDailyNews

Guam swimmer Ken Barcinas recently accepted a swimming scholarship to attend Yamanashi Gakuin University, located approximately 62 miles due west of Tokyo.

Barcinas intends to study sports management and continue training through the next two Olympic Games. He holds the Guam national record in the 200-meter butterfly at 2 minutes and 13.46 seconds, but plans to focus on the 200 freestyle leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games. He is approximately seven seconds off the qualifying mark of 1:50.76 in that event.

One of the biggest differences at the collegiate level is the mental toughness of teammates, he said.

“Practice is very tough, from beginning to end, but training together with your teammates and watching them refuse to give up motivates me to stay mentally strong and not to give up either,” he said.

Schoolwork is challenging, too, but he’s encouraged to complete his degree in order to give back to Guam swimming “so the younger, developing kids will enjoy it more.”

Well prepared locally by the support of his parents Rumi and Gerry, younger brother Renji, coach Toshi Iijima, teammates and friends on the Tsunami Swim Club and all other Guam swim clubs and local clothier Fokai, Ken Barcinas remains extremely appreciative and committed to maintaining this course.

“I want to thank everyone for all the support, and I will continue to do my best to represent Guam in all that I do,” he said.

While his first competition for school will not begin until late July, Ken Barcinas will return to Guam for the Guam Swimming Federation National Championships May 27 and 28. He will also swim on May 29 to defend his title in the Cocos Crossing ocean swim race, where he established a new course record in 2010.

Information was provided in a press release.