Exclusive: Interview With Japanese Coach Takao Tanaka at Pan Pacs

By Takahisa Ide

VICTORIA, British Columbia, August 24. Swimming World Magazine’s Takahisa Ide had the chance to interview Japan’s Takao Tanaka, who coaches Ai Shibata, Takami Igarashi and Ken Takakuwa. All three of his athletes medaled at the 2006 Mutual of Omaha Pan Pacific Championships last week.

SWM.com: What was the plan for Shibata’s 400 freestyle that won gold during the meet?
Tanaka: Because Katie Hoff had a great first half during prelims, where she went 59 seconds in the first 100 and 2:01 at the 200-meter mark, we just wanted to be within a half of a body-length with her in the final. During finals, Katie was not as fast as prelims, but Ai’s 2:04 at 200 meters was too slow. Our plan was to have a 2:02 after the first half. We had a great practice in Flagstaff, Ariz., so I thought Ai would swim under her best time of 4:06.74. I am satisfied with that last 50 meters that was 29.53. That 50 meters was a good swim for her.

SWM.com: Talk about Igarashi’s performance in which she went 2:10.02 during prelims and then went 2:10.30 during finals for the bronze.
Tanaka: Takami was great during prelims, because I indicated to her to swim fast during prelims. Japan has Reiko Nakamura, Hanae Ito and Takami and their 200 backstroke best times are 2:09’s, so Takami needs to swim fast in prelims. The next step is that Takami needs to be faster in the 100 backstroke. Because Takami can swim just 1:02.23 in the 100 backstroke, she has to try to easy swim 1:02’s in the first half of the 200 backstroke. Reiko and Hanae have good speed in the 100 back, so they can swim 1:00’s for the 100 backstroke. That means that Takami has a disadvantage during the first half of the 200 backstroke. Takami’s goal is 2:08’s at the 2008 Olympic Trials.

SWM.com: How do you go about coaching Igarashi in the backstroke?
Tanaka: We do a lot of yardage for aerobic activity every practice – I hope better than Reiko and Hanae. Reiko and Hanae were great swimmers since high school, but Takami swam 2:18’s in the 200 backstroke during high school. I think she will be better in the future.

SWM.com: Talk about Ken Takakuwa, because he is a new name to our readership.
Tanaka: Ken put up a 1:59.81 for bronze in the 200 IM at this meet. He started off by swimming 2:07’s in the 200 IM in high school. He is a great racer at a swim meet, but so so in practice. Ken can only beat Ai Shibata about 10-percent of the time in practice, but he also is doing a lot of yardage in every practice with Takami and Ai. I like how he races.

SWM.com: How did you practice for Shibata’s 1500 freestyle, because her 400 and 800 looked good, but it didn’t look like she had a good race in the 1500?
Tanaka: We did not practice enough for the 1500 freestyle, because the 1500 is not an Olympic event. We just focus on the 400 and 800, but she swam a best time of 16:11.13 in the 1500. That time surprised me.

SWM.com: How was Shibata as a swimmer up until college?
Tanaka: Ai was not a great swimmer. She finished fifth at the inter-high school meet. I think Ai’s swimming technique is for no resistance from the water. So, she is still improving her performances.

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