NEARLY over a month after recovering from COVID-19, swimmer Xiandi Chua could have skipped the just-concluded Philippine Swimming Inc. National Open at the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and no one would have minded.
Instead, in a remarkable show of resiliency, Chua swam and swept four events, completing her sweep with a victory in the women’s 100-meter freestyle in 59.26 seconds last Sunday in a fruitful campaign in the three-day meet supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and TYR swimming gear.
Aside from her last-day triumph, the 2019 Southeast Asian Games silver medalist also ruled the women’s 200-meter individual medley (2:23.21), 200-meter freestyle (2:08.91) and 400-meter IM (5:07.25).
“What can I say, Xiandi is both courageous and a gifted swimmer. Anyone would have made an excuse but not her. She was built for this sport,” said former national coach Pinky Broses of the All Star Swim Club ace, whom he has been mentoring for seven years.
“You must understand that she (Chua) was unable to train for a week, and missing one day of training means you have to work double time to get back into competitive shape. What she did at the pool was truly remarkable,” Broses noted.
