Mike Sciacca
Her green braces and shy smile serve as gentle reminders that Cindy
Tran is just a youngster. But when you see her compete, she seems
well beyond her 12 years.
The talented Mesa View Middle School student was recognized for
her swimming endeavors at the May 3 City Council meeting at City
Hall.
Cindy, accompanied by Golden West Swim Club Coach Rick Graves, was
presented a commendation by Mayor Cathy Green for breaking the
national record in the 11-12 age division's 50-yard backstroke.
She swam to a record time of 26.23 at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long
Beach earlier this year. She set the national record as an
11-year-old.
"That was a neat night," she said of the meeting, as she took a
break from swimming Monday at the Golden West College pool. "It was
nice to be honored for that accomplishment and I think the award
should also go to my coaches and teammates for all the help and
support they've given me."
It was the second national record set by the Gifted And Talented
Education student, who, a year earlier, set her first national age
group mark when she broke the 50-yard backstroke record in the 9-10
division with a time of 27.81.
"She got hungry after setting that first national record," Graves
said. "She said that she wanted to break an 11-12 division record
when she was 11, and she did just that."
They were thrilling moments in her young life.
"It was very exciting, sort of magical, when I set those records,"
Cindy said. "My coaches and teammates all knew I could do it, and
they really gave me a lot of support."
Cindy gets her instruction from Graves, and fellow Golden West
Swim Club coaches Laurel Hill and her husband, Peter Ney.
"Cindy has an amazing ability to harness the speed she generates
off walls," Graves said. "She can manipulate her body and she's very
bright. She just does a lot of things very well. We have to allow her
to be as successful in this environment, but still recognize that
she's just a kid."
Cindy is part of a Golden West Swim Club that is home to several
swimmers who rank among the top 16 in the nation in their respective
age groups.
The club team has swimmers ages 12 to 21.
At the Junior Olympics held earlier this year, Golden West Swim
Club placed 14th, overall.
Cindy swept the 11-12 age group in the 50- and 100-yard backstroke
events, the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events, the 100-yard
individual medley and the 50-yard butterfly.
It was at this meet where she set the new 11-12 age group standard
in the 50-yard butterfly.
