Kayla Sanchez will be heading to her second consecutive Olympic Games.
This time, the Fil-Canadian swimmer will represent the Philippines, as Philippine Aquatics, Inc. has officially nominated her for the Universality spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France next month.
Previously representing Canada, Sanchez first competed for the Three Stars and the Sun in the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Just recently, the 23-year-old standout delivered a stellar performance, clocking 25.28 seconds to claim gold in the women’s 50-meter freestyle at the 59th Mel Zajac, Jr. International Swim Meet held at the University of British Columbia Aquatic Center in Vancouver, Canada.
In Paris, Sanchez will compete in the 100-meter event, where she set a new national record of 54.69 seconds during her debut at the Hangzhou Asiad.
(C) LPGT
Meanwhile, Bianca Pagdangangan will also make her second consecutive Olympics appearance after securing her place in the International Golf Federation Rankings at 35th.
Photo from LPGT
Joining her will be Dottie Ardina, a first-time Olympian but seasoned golfer, who clinched her spot finishing at 55th, as the top 60 golfers qualified.
Kiyomi Watanabe, the silver medalist in the minus-63 kg category at the 2018 Asian Games, also earned a return trip to the Olympics through the World Rankings pathway.
She secured the continental quota for Asia with her accumulated points.
Swimmer Jarod Hatch, recognized as the Philippines’ top male butterfly specialist, will compete in the 100-meter event in Paris.
The 25-year-old holds the Philippine record in this event with a time of 52.87 seconds set at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.
“Great news, and we can even ask for more,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino from Metz, France, where he’s overseeing the pre-Paris training camp at La Moselle with chef de mission Jonvic Remulla.
“Each day, as the countdown to the Olympics dwindles, the morale goes higher and higher,” Tolentino added.
With 20 athletes now confirmed, the Philippines has surpassed the 19 athletes sent to the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, where weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz secured the country’s first Olympic gold.
The list is expected to expand further as more qualifiers from athletics may join the contingent in Paris, potentially including hurdlers John Cabang Tolentino and Lauren Hoffmann.
They would join world silver medalist pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
“But we’re expecting more,” said Tolentino as he awaits an official announcement from World Athletics on who will join world No. 2 men’s pole vaulter Obiena in Paris.
“We’re chasing more history, we’re setting the ante higher,” added Tolentino, whose target is to match or surpass the one gold, two silver and one bronze medals clinched in Tokyo.
