MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Four American teams and one Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force team battled it out in the Main Gym's indoor pool March 29, during the third annual U.S. Forces - JMSDF Shinzen Swim meet.
In the individual category, JMSDF made a clean sweep, taking home all six gold medals. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 took home three silver and two bronze, followed by Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, which grasped three silver and one bronze. Marine Aircraft Group 12 took home three bronze.
In the team category, the Marines from MALS-12 took home the first-place trophy with a score of 10 points, the MAG-12 team came in second with nine points and JMSDF battled it out during a three-way tie breaker with eight points.
"The reason for the competition is to bring Japanese and American forces together in a swim competition," said Sean Kim Han, Marine Corps Community Services aquatics director. "The focus is to get the units out here to enjoy the swimming facility as well as to enjoy competition."
Although the JMSDF team dove right in during the morning's individual events and took all the gold, it did not diminish the competitive spirit of the Marines.
"Competing against the Japanese was pretty awesome," said Randall Navarro, MALS-12 swimmer. "They were some good competition and they can really swim"
The first half of the day-long event included individual competitions such as the 50- and 100-meter breaststroke and freestyle. However, the afternoon competition was filled with events that would not be found in an Olympic competition, such as a combat swim, canoe tug-of-war and a big splash contest.
"The most amusing was definitely the splash contest," Navarro said. "The other events like the canoe tag-of-war, water polo and combat swim were great. It took a team effort."
Although it was a competition, the underlying focus was on physical fitness and having a good time, according to Kim Han. The events were designed around physical fitness, uniqueness, teamwork and competition.
"We didn't know what to expect going into it," Navarro said. "I'd definitely do it again."
In the end, JMSDF and MALS-12 may have gone home the overall winners, but good sportsmanship was a constant throughout the event.
"We cheered as much as we could, and after the competition we shook everyone's hand," Navarro said. "It was just a good time."