Olympic swimming medalist shifts to Philippine nationality
PHILIPPINE swimming landed a big fish following Olympic medalist and Filipino-canadian Kayla Sanchez’s decision to shift allegiance and represent the country in future international competitions.
Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) President Lani Velasco presented the 21-year-old Sanchez to the local swimming community and media and to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) in a press conference at the POC Headquarters at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City on Thursday.
“The PSI welcomes Sanchez with open arms and is committed to helping her achieve her goals in the next few years, including a possible stint at the Paris Olympics in 2024,” said Lani Velasco, who was with POC deputy secretary general Bones Floro during the welcoming of the new national team member.
Sanchez swam under the Canadian flag since 2016. The reigning world junior record holder in the 50-meter freestyle clinched silver in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay and bronze in the 4x100-meter medley relay at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.
She bagged two silvers and two bronzes in the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary and three golds in the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Abu Dhabi.
“It was a matter of timing and a question of timing and now is a good time to bring what I do and what I love here in the Philippines,” Sanchez said. “I think it’s a bigger picture of and a bigger meaning of using what I do and what I love to inspire Filipinos like me to commit to sports and show what they are capable of.”