Kayla Sanchez powers PH resurgence in SEA Games swimming with personal 8-medal haul

CHONBURI, Thailand – The addition of Kayla Sanchez has proven to be a potent shot in the arm for the Philippine swimming team that posted its best Southeast Asian Games campaign in more than a decade.

Sanchez powered the Philippines’ 3-gold, 9-silver, 2-bronze haul as the six-day swimming competition concluded at the SAT Swimming Pool in Bangkok on Monday, December 15.

It marked the first time the Philippines won more than two swimming golds in a single SEA Games since its 4-6-1 gold-silver-bronze run in the 2009 edition led by Miguel Molina.

Sanchez played a part in all those three gold finishes, winning the 4x100m freestyle relay together with Xiandi Chua, Chloe Isleta, and Heather White, and then ruling the 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke events.

The most bemedalled Filipino athlete in this SEA Games, Sanchez also won individual silvers in 200m freestyle, 50m backstroke, and 50m freestyle, and team silvers in 4x200m freestyle relay with Chua, Isleta, and White, and in 4x100m medley relay with Chua, White, and Miranda Renner for a total of eight medals.

While she may have been the star of the show, Sanchez — an Olympic silver and bronze medalist during her time representing Canada — gave credit to the entire team. 

“It takes a village,” said Sanchez. 

The Philippines’ other silvers were delivered by White (women’s 100m freestyle), Chua (women’s 200m backstroke), Renner (women’s 50m butterfly), and Gian Christopher Santos (men’s 200m individual medley). 

White (women’s 50m freestyle) and Logan Wataru Noguchi (men’s 50m butterfly) added a pair of bronzes. 

From fifth in 2023, the Philippines improved to fourth overall in the sport once again dominated by swimming powerhouse Singapore, which came away with 19 golds, 8 silvers, and 7 bronzes. – Rappler.com