TO finally end all discussions related to the non-inclusion of Chloe Isleta in the Philippine Team to the 19th FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, the International Swimming Federation said Isleta failed to qualify because she didn’t meet the required time.
In a one-page letter last Friday, June 18, 2022, FINA Sports Director Pere Miro said the international swim body had to deny the inclusion of Isleta despite attempts from Philippine Swimming Inc. president Lailani Velasco to add her to the squad.
Last May 26, the PSI said Jasmine Alkhaldi, Miranda Renner, Isleta, and Luke Gebbie would make up the national team to Hungary.
Alkhaldi, Renner and Gebbie earned their slots by virtue of achieving “B” standard entry times in a FINA qualifying event while Isleta earned her slot through universality. Isleta bagged the country’s lone swimming gold medal, ruling the women’s 200-meter backstroke in the recent Vietnam SEA Games.
In the Vietnam Games, an event approved by FINA as a qualifier for the worlds, Alkhaldi (25.62 seconds in women’s 50m freestyle), Jerard Jacinto (26.04 seconds in men’s backstroke) and Renner (26.99 seconds in women’s 50m butterfly) achieved “B” standard entry times. Gebbie achieved a “B” standard entry time during the Tokyo Olympics way back in July 2021 (49.64 seconds in men’s 100m freestyle).
Under FINA rules, three female swimmers and one male can compete in the Worlds provided that three of the four achieved a standard entry time. This is the reason why Isleta was named into the lineup despite missing the B standard entry time in her event.
Jacinto, though he has qualified, begged off and was not named to the team due to health reasons.
Last June 6, the PSI received news that Gebbie sustained an injury in training that forced him to withdraw from the World championships.
“We understand that originally three athletes from the Philippines had achieved the qualification standard times. Following the injury of Gebbie Luke Michael, only two athletes registered at the Fina World Championships had a qualifying time B,” said Miro.
