School teacher delivers on pledge to student

By Ken Wills

BEIJING (Reuters) - On Thursday, Hawaii school teacher Donovan Aiona delivered on a promise he made nearly 10 years ago to a struggling student in his class he would be there to support him if he ever made the Olympic Games.

Aiona was cheering from the stands at Beijing's Water Cube for his former student, Daniel Coakley, who is now 18 and as a dual U.S.-Philippines citizen swam for the Philippines in the 50 meters freestyle, on Thursday.

"I said go for it -- follow your dreams, and when you make it to the Olympics, I'll be there for you," said Aiona, who still teaches fourth grade (10 year olds) at the Kohala Elementary School in a small town on Hawaii's Big Island.

Coakley, who swum 22.69 seconds in his heat but missed out on the semi-finals, sought out his former teacher after the race and hugged him.

"If it hadn't been for Donovan and my other supporters, I wouldn't have done as well as I did," said Coakley, who set a personal best time and a Philippines national record.

Aiona said he never forgot his promise, and when he learned Coakley had qualified for the Olympics, he called his wife and told her to pack for Beijing.

Recalling his original pledge, Aiona said he was not just offering encouraging words to a struggling student.

"For some reason, there was a feeling inside of me that made me think he was going to make it, almost like an omen."

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)