Pool Passion

One young Member shares how joining the Club swim team opened up new lanes of fun.

Barely 15 minutes after wrapping up a 90-minute training session with the Club’s swim team at the Sky Pool, 10-year-old Member Axl Kort is back in the water, diligently swimming laps.

Although he’s been swimming since he was a baby, Axl says that it wasn’t until he joined the swim team in 2020 that he truly embraced the sport.

“Joining the team made me more confident, a better swimmer and, most importantly, allowed me to make new friends that I look forward to seeing during practices and races,” he explains.

With three practices a week and regular race sessions against fellow teammates, Axl also represents the Club in swim meets against school teams and clubs.

Under the guidance of head coach Simon Hadlow and instructors Marcin Nowakowski and Farid Stas, Axl has registered a personal best of 35 seconds for the 50-meter freestyle.

“They’ve helped me improve while also having fun,” he says of his coaches.

Back in March, Axl traveled with the team to Bangkok for an international meet. It was a chance for him to test himself in a new environment.

“Axl had an excellent meet, and he came back more motivated,” Hadlow says. “These meets are special and are a great bonding experience for the team. Traveling, competing, supporting each other and hanging out together creates memories and builds friendships.”

Nowakowski describes Axl as naturally “competitive,” so it wasn’t so surprising that he signed up for the Club’s monthlong Tokyo Bay Challenge in 2021. He was the only youngster to enter and reached his 20-kilometer goal by the end of February. The following year, he upped the distance to 42 kilometers.

“My dad and I would come on the weekends to swim together and to hit our distance goals,” Axl says. “Waking up on Saturday mornings was tough—but always rewarding—with a waffle or two waiting for me afterwards at Café Med!”

Hadlow says the young Member found his niche.

“Axl is definitely a distance swimmer,” he says. “He just keeps on going. The Tokyo Bay Challenge was perfect for him.”

Axl might be relocating to Thailand with his family this summer, but there are plenty more laps to be swum.

“I really hope to see my teammates at meets and competitions in other places,” he says, “and I will return to Japan for races where my new swim team will hopefully be invited.”