The Philippine national swimming team made waves at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, bringing home an impressive haul of three golds, nine silvers, and two bronzes.
It was the country’s most successful gold-medal performance in 16 years, harking back to the 2009 edition of the Games in Laos, when Miguel Molina, Ryan Arabejo, and Daniel Coakley collectively claimed four golds.
Since then, medals — especially gold — have been hard to come by.
There were moments of brilliance along the way: James Deiparine’s 100m breaststroke gold during the 30th SEA Games in New Clark City, Chloe Isleta’s 200m backstroke triumph in 2021, and the 100m and 200m backstroke wins of Teia Salvino and Xiandi Chua in 2023, which signaled the end of what had been considered the dark years of Philippine swimming.
Much of the credit goes to the athletes who had long been identified as the future core of Philippine swimming by former swimming chief Lani Velasco. Among them: Isleta, Salvino, Chua, and, of course, Kayla Sanchez.
Sanchez’s switch in sporting nationality from Canada to the Philippines, however, drew the most international attention.
In July 2022, Velasco, then chief of Philippine Swimming Incorporated, introduced her to the public, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to helping Sanchez achieve her goals, including a potential stint at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
“The moment we first approached Kayla, it was clear she had the talent and the heart to represent the Philippines,” Velasco recalled.
“Seeing her compete now at the SEA Games and in major competitions like the Olympics — there’s a deep sense of pride. It’s a dream realized not just for her, but for Philippine swimming.”
Born to Filipino parents in Singapore, Sanchez had long wanted to swim for the Philippines to fulfill her father Noel’s dream, despite having been raised and trained in an optimal environment in Canada.
“My dad told me it was his dream to watch me compete at the Southeast Asian Games for the Philippines,” she told Olympics.com.
“From that point, I knew I wanted to make that happen. It was just a matter of when.”
But Sanchez was never alone in this vision.
Velasco and her team scouted talent across the country and abroad, organizing meets and nurturing the next generation of swimmers through regional competitions such as the Southeast Asian Age Group Championships and the World Junior Swimming Championships.
That foresight brought names like Chua and Salvino to the national limelight, as well as 33rd SEA Games debutants Heather White, Gian Santos, and Jasmine Mojdeh, who gained their first exposure to the global stage at the 2022 FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Lima, Peru.
Other members of the 33rd SEA Games roster, such as Miranda Renner, Quendy Fernandez, and Kyla Bulaga, are also products of the SEA Age developmental tourney, which Velasco emphasized strong participation in.
In 2022, Sanchez described her move as “a matter of timing” to Tiebreaker Times.
“I’m older, I’m more independent, and now’s a good time to bring what I do and love here to the Philippines. It’s about inspiring Filipinos like me to commit to the sport, be competitive, and see what they’re capable of,” she said.
Even after FINA withdrew recognition of PSI later that year, Velasco maintained close relationships with her former athletes.
“I continue to follow their journeys and stay connected with them,” Velasco said.
“I’m incredibly proud of what they’ve accomplished, and it’s reassuring to see them grow not just as swimmers but also as great ambassadors of our country.”
During this year’s SEA Games, Sanchez emerged as the most bemedaled Filipino athlete. She won gold in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, and the 4×100m freestyle relay with White, Chua, and Isleta, while also claiming silvers in the 50m freestyle, 200m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 4×200m freestyle relay, and 4×100m medley relay.
White earned individual silver in the 100m freestyle and bronze in the 50m freestyle, Santos secured silver in the 200m individual medley, and Renner capped her campaign with a silver medal in the 50m butterfly.
“Miranda’s silver medal in the 50m butterfly was a deeply proud moment for me. She has represented Philippine swimming across the Junior Worlds, multiple SEA Games, and the World Championships, and seeing that long journey culminate in a podium finish for the country is incredibly fulfilling,” said Velasco.
“Gian and Kayla represent the kind of athletes Philippine swimming needs — talented, disciplined, and driven by purpose,” she added.
“I hope their performances inspire both swimmers and coaches to believe in what’s possible and continue pushing the sport forward.”
