Photos courtesy of Maida Montemayor

Hawaii High School Swimmer
Simms, 17-year-old high school junior, will compete in the 2008 Olympic Games in the sport of swimming for the 100-meter freestyle event.

EWA BEACH, OAHU, HAWAII — With the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing less than six months away, Christel Simms, one of Hawaii’s most notable swimmers, has begun preparing for what could be the biggest and most important event in her 9 years in competitive swimming – representing the Republic of the Philippines at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Simms, a 17-year-old Hawaii native and Punahou School junior, passed the Olympic qualifying standard for the 100-meter freestyle swimming event at 57.17 seconds on August 8, 2007 at the USA Junior National Swimming Championships at Indianapolis.

Simms, who has broken 54 individual Hawaii State records since she was 9 years old, caught the attention of many national and international swimming organizations when she became a member of the USA National Junior Swimming Team in 2007. She recorded a 57.12-second time for the 100-meter freestyle heat and 26.38-second time for the 50-meter freestyle — both passing the USA Olympic trial cut. Among the organizations that saw promise in the young Olympic hopeful was the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA).

“Simms will definitely help to put Philippines on the map for swimming. She’s an incredibly talented athlete who we’re sure will represent our country very well in the 100-meter freestyle event at Beijing,” said Mark Joseph, Philippine Amateur Swimming Association president. “We’ve had our eye on Christel for almost two years; she’s a hot commodity in the U.S. and we’re extremely glad she’s chosen to take this route and be a Republic of the Philippines representative in the 2008 Olympic Games.”

Photos courtesy of Maida Montemayor

“I was 15 years old when I decided I wanted to someday compete in the Olympics. From that point I made it my ultimate dream goal and I’m just so excited I’ve accomplished that. I’m grateful for this experience and to PASA for helping to make this opportunity possible and I’ll savor every minute of the experience once I arrive in Beijing,” said Simms.

Simms joins a team of four male swimmers – all also from the U.S. – as the first female to represent the Republic of the Philippines in Beijing in the sport of swimming. She will also be the seventh female representative in the entire history of the Republic of the Philippines to compete in the Olympics, since the country first participated in the Paris 1924 games.

“My family has played a huge role in my quest to compete in the Olympic Games,” said Simms. “It’s finally going to happen and I couldn’t be happier, not only will I gain an awesome learning experience but I’ll also have the chance to be among the best athletes of the world.”

Although Simms was raised in the United States, her parents, Charles and Jocelyn, made sure to immerse her and her 16-year-old brother, Jerrold, in their Filipino culture.

“Her best trait aside from her work ethic and dedication is that she’s very ‘coachable.’ I’ve worked with many swimmers over the years and none of them have been as self-motivated as Christel,” said Scott Sherwood, Simms’s 8-year swimming coach and Hawaii Swim Club head coach. “I saw the promise in her when she was only 10 years old.”

Throughout her swimming career, Simms has continued to play a leadership role among Hawaii swimmers. One of her most notable achievements include consecutively placing high among the annual, nationwide USA Swimming “Top 16 Age Group” ranking since the age of 12. A few of her most notable sport highlights include: making the USA National Junior Swimming Team at 16 years old, qualifying for the Olympics, being a 10-time Hawaii State Champion, a 4-time recipient of the Governor Linda Lingle Most Outstanding Female Swimmer Award, breaking a Western zone record in the 200-meter freestyle event at 13 years old, and having broken 54 state records (not including relays) to date.

A regular week of training for Simms typically includes a comprehensive exercise schedule of both swimming and dry land exercise – three to four hours each day, six days a week – totaling up to 18 to 24 hours a week. As a 6-year Hawaii Swim Club member, Simms trains 3 times a week at the salt lake recreation center and 3 times a week at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Waipio.

An increased number of hours will be added to her training schedule to prepare for the following upcoming events:
• April 9-13, 2008 - 9th FINA World Championships in Manchester, England
• May 15-18,2008 - Santa Clara International Grand prix, California
• June 6-8, 2008 - 32nd SEA Games, Age Group Swimming Champ, Bangkok, Thailand.

For more information on Hawaii’s future teenage Olympian, Contact Tracy Flores at 808-265-9484 or via email at tmignacio@gmail.com.

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Press

Honolulu Advertiser - (Simms going to Beijing with eyes open, confidence high) 8/6/08
Swimming World Magazine (Christel Simms Wins Appeal to Represent Philippines at 2008 Olympic Games) 8/1/08
Honolulu Star Bulletin (Philippines will pay for gold) 7/27/08
KHNL.com (Punahou Student Heading to the Olympics) 3/28/08
Honolulu Star Bulletin (On to the Olympics) 3/19/08
KHNL.com (Local Teen Preparing for 2008 Olympic Games) 3/4/2008
inquirer.net (Local Teen Preparing for 2008 Olympic Games) 3/4/2008

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Swimming Awards & Achievements

Photos courtesy of Maida Montemayor

National (USA) and International
- Olympic Trial Qualifier for USA
- Senior and Junior National Qualifier
- 2007 USA National Junior Team member
- Ranked among USA’s Top 16 – National Age Group (Age 12-present)
- Junior Pan Pacific bronze medalist (200 freestyle relay)
- Junior National Championships – Three- time medalist 2005-2007 (100 free)
- Two- time medalist 2005-2006 (50 free)
- Spring National Championships – finalist (2006-2007)
- US Open Championships – finalist (2004)
- Oceania Championships – Fiji (2004)/Australia (2006) - finalist
- Speedo Western Regional Sectional Championships –Four- time medalist-2006
- Western Zone Long Course Championships – Nine- time medalist (2003-2004)

National Ranking (USA) - Top 16 (Age Group)
Long Course Meters - 9th place - 100 back (11-12 age group)
10th place – 50, 100 free
2nd place – 100 free (13-14 age group)
4th place - 50 free
9th place - 200 free
12th place – 200 backstroke
16th place – 100 backstroke
9th place - 50 free (15 age group)
8th place – 100free
7th place – 50 free (16 age group)
12th place – 100 free
Short Course Yards - 3rd place – 100 free (13/14 age group)
9th place – 50 free
9th place – 100 back
4th place – 100 free (15/16 age group)
14th place – 100 back
8th place – 100 free (17/18 age group)
12th place – 100 back

National (USA) and International
10 Time State Champion
1 Western Zone Record – 200 free
54 Individual State Records (Short Course yards/meters, Long Course meters)
10 relays Records

Most Outstanding Female Swimmer of the Year awards
2004 - 2007 4-time recipient,Gov Linda Lingle Award
2003 – 2007 5-time recipient, Harry Mamizuka Invitational Award
2003 – 2007 5-time recipient, Keo Nakama Invitational Award
2003 – 2006 4-time recipient, Bill Smith Invitational Award
2003 – 2007 5-time recipient, Pearl City Invitational Award
2003 – 2007 5 time recipient , Al Minns Invitational Award
2001 & 2004 2-time recipient , Koolau Invitational Award

Ocean Swim
2005 – 2007 3-time ocean swim champion – Duke Kahanamoku Ocean Fest
2003 – 2004 2-time ocean swim champion - Waikiki Rough Water
2001 – 2006 8 time ocean swim champion – North Shore series

High School
12 time Gold medalist – 2005, 2006, 2007 High School State Champion
2 Individual High School State Records
2 Relay Records
7- time All American Awardees, 3- time All American Awardees (relay)
12-time Gold medalist – 2005, 2006, 2007 ILH Champion
2 Individual ILH records
3 Relay records
8-time Gold Medalist – 2005, 2006, 2007 Kalani Invitational Champion
3 individual Kalani Invitaional records
2005-2006 Billy Weaver – Sport woman of the year award, Punahou School