If Kai Hayashida, who recently turned 12, were to jump in the pool today and race his father/coach, Jon, both parties agree that youth would win out. ADVERTISING If Kai Hayashida, who recently turned 12, were to jump in the
If Kai Hayashida, who recently turned 12, were to jump in the pool today and race his father/coach, Jon, both parties agree that youth would win out.
Even if Jon Hayashida could turn back the clock, he’d be out of luck — Kai’s times as an 11-year-old are better than his father’s at the same age.
At least for now. The older Hayashida started to sprout at ages 12-13 and eventually swam at two colleges, first at the University of Houston and then the University of Denver.
“I started working and improving when I was this age,” Jon said. “But he might get there, too.”
If it’s a matter of putting in the time, don’t bet against the younger Hayashida.
More often than not, he can be found working away five days a week at Hilo Aquatic Club practices. The swim season is pretty much a year-round endeavor, so his mom, Karen, is in charge of making sure Kai keeps a balanced life. But his father is “Coach Jon” at practice, making sure Kai reaches his goals.
“I scold him as much as anyone else,” dad said.
And make no mistake, Kai has goals. He tried other sports before taking swimming at the age of 7. Now that he’s here, he has plans.
“Away from practice, I’m like any 12-year-old,” he said. “At practice, it’s kind of different, because I’m really locked into what I want to do. I know it’s going to pay off really well.”
He’ll take the payoff as it comes, but he flashed his potential in late March at the Northwest Regional age group swimming championships outside Seattle, grabbing two freestyle golds (100 and 500), a silver in the 200 free and a bronze in the 50 free.
Kai, a sixth-grader at Hilo Intermediate, qualified for three events at the Western Zone championships in August, and what most impressed his father was how much he slashed his times.
“Almost 3 seconds in the 100 and about 4 in the 200,” Jon Hayashida said. “In the 500, we thought he did really good and he cut down about 6 seconds. We thought that would be the best time of all of them, but it was third.”
Kai’s racing strategy at regionals seems like a bit of a trade secret around the Hayashida household, but Kai was willing to reveal a little.
“We had a strategy to sprint the first 50, and I kind of sprinted out of my mind,” he said. “I was able to hold on. When I hit the wall, I saw pretty shocking times.”
For all Big Island club swimmers, the next big event is the state age group championships in July.
Kai has some sound advice for swimming at big competitions.
“I don’t overthink, that’s the main point,” he said. “If you overthink, you’re going to get too nervous, you’re not going to perform well.
“It’s good to be nervous, but I try to stay relaxed. I’m that way in everything I do,” he said.
Regarding that mythical Hayashida vs. Hayashida race: It wouldn’t be much of a fair fight.
Jon Hayashida doesn’t swim anymore, and Kai is trying to become more well-rounded and cut his times in the individual medley.
“I’d have to practice and swim him in the butterfly,” Jon Hayashida said.
