CHRISTOPHER Gian Santos is passion, purpose, and productivity personified. As such a young age, he is able to achieve recognition and break records in swimming not only by sheer talent but by training, hardwork. discipline and excellence. He is able to match this with excellence in academic and landed top honors which merited his entry to the prestigious Columbia University in New York.
To top it all, Gian has held on to and shared the admirable values of love of family, country and God, and serves as a good role model to young Kapampangans and Filipinos who may well follow his lead.
I had the pleasure of meeting with outstanding young swimmer Gian Santos during my recent trip to New York; and that was our reconnection after our initial encounter in Manila last August where he aced multiple gold medals and even charted new records in the junior division.
Here’s our initial talk with this next big thing in swimming:
When did you have this inkling that you wanted to get into swimming? How were you introduced to the sport?
Gian: I have always loved the water, so when my mom enrolled me in a summer swim school when I was only 7 years old, I was ecstatic. Also during this time, I started to watch videos of the Olympics, especially Michael Phelps at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. From this, I started to get my competitive drive in swimming, and I began to find satisfaction in overcoming the difficulty found in swim practices, as well as the eventual improvement of times during the competitions.
What made you decide to get into swimming seriously? How did this jive with your academic schooling?
Gian: At 12 years old, I was distracted. My coach at the time told my parents that I am not focused at practice, and mainly went just for “social hour”. That day, my parents told me that swimming, while something I do for fun, can also be very helpful to forming my future. If I stay disciplined in what I do and pray enough, I will be able to make a name for myself in both college and the Philippines. Now I am reaping what I sowed, attending an Ivy institution, and majoring in Neuroscience. It is an opportunity I am truly blessed to have, and can’t wait for what’s to come within the next four years.
How did it feel that you had to leave your swimming coach when you had to leave for New York for college?
Gian: It was definitely a sentimental moment for me, especially since I have been with my club coach, Adam Crossen for the past 4 years in L.A. We have worked on so much together in the water, particularly my technique, stroke, and mentality, while also bonding closely with each other outside of swimming. I think of him as my second dad and close friend, and Coach Adam is someone I have nothing but respect for for helping me mature into the person I am today.
Though I will be swimming in New York at Columbia University during the school year with Coach Jim Bolster, I will be sure to maintain a close connection with Coach Adam. I will still continue to train with him over the summer when not in college.
Which competitions made a mark on you and what did you learn from them?
Gian: At the 2022 Southern California Invitational, I earned my first Winter Junior cut in the 400 Freestyle, allowing me to swim for Novaquatics at the National level. Not only that, but my 4-second drop, which came completely unexpectedly, got me a spot into the 2022 World Juniors to be held in Lima, Peru. It was a monumental swim for me at the time, and one that showed to me the satisfying result of hard work, dedication, and a lot of patience.
2022 World Juniors in Lima, Peru was the first major stepping stone to my maturity as an athlete. Due to the pressure of representing my country (as the only person on the team with the A qualifying time standard, the magnitude of the competition, and how I was racing the fastest juniors in the world, I underperformed, resulting in arguably my worst competition to date. Afterward, I learned 3 things: 1. In swimming, like in all things, always give your best effort, even when you may not be feeling your best, because when you only have 60% and you give 60%, you give 100%; 2. Trust the process. I have swum these races many times before, and gone through enough training to know how to approach these races. Same race, different stage; and 3. Have fun. No matter how far I go in swim, and no matter how accomplished I may be, I always ensure I’m having fun. I do not swim for accolades, medals, or fame. I swim because of how I test my physical and mental limits each and every day for practice, along with my genuine love for the water, the sport, and improving on my times.
That’s it for now for Gian Santos who known for his monicker, Supertanker G. This is just the beginning of a truly bright swimming career, as entities, institutions. brands start to support him in his journey towards his Olympic dream. Without doubt, Gian will make our country proud!
