ENDING a long and agonizing 90-year medal dry spell in swimming in the Olympics, much more winning the coveted gold, will never be a breeze.
That explains why Kayla Noelle Sanchez, a medal winning member of the Canadian swimming team who has opted to don the Philippine tricolors, is setting her studies aside, for now.
“I don’t wanna put a few eggs in different baskets. I’d like to be good at one thing and to be really good at it,” Sanchez said. “I’m still studying, and I still have aspirations to study full time but right now I have to put studies a little bit aside.”
Sanchez, 21, who was born in Singapore and raised in Canada by Filipino parents, arrived in the country last week to switch allegiances, the same path taken by chess wizard Wesley
So and golfer Yuka Saso in the past when they chose to suit up for the United States and Japan, respectively.
The 5-foot-5 tanker bagged a silver and a bronze as a member of the Canadian 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley teams in Tokyo.
Sanchez said she is looking forward to training with the national swimming team.
“I know it will be different but different is always good, change is always good, and I think I’m looking to try new training styles,” Sanchez said.
“It should be the same because training in swimming is pretty intense and it will be a good base for developing new relationships with coaches and I’m excited for what will come from it.”
