AFTER her Olympic debut for the Philippines, Filipino-Canadian swimmer Kayla Sanchez is determined “to make a statement” in her maiden appearance for the country in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand in December next year.
“I want to make a statement, win as many golds as I can in my first SEA Games in Thailand,” Sanchez said last Tuesday night during a victory party for the PH Olympic squad hosted by Hilton Manila Hotel in Pasay City.
“I really want to make an impact in the SEA Games and show everyone here in the Philippines what I can do and I am going to wear the flag proudly,” vowed the swimmer, whose parents were born in the country. She switched nationalities in 2022.
Competing in the women’s 100-meter freestyle, her stint was short-lived at the Paris Olympics. After setting a new national record of 53.67 in the heats, she bowed out of contention after clocking 54.69 seconds in the quarterfinals.
The 23-year-old tanker said she would be an incoming freshman in September taking up a degree in Nursing at the University of British Columbia, noted for its strong swimming program under former Canadian swimming team head coach Derrick Schoof.
As a member of the UBC varsity swimming squad, Sanchez said she would consult her coach regarding her schedule so she could maximize the number of events she can swim in the Thailand SEA Games.
“I will consult with my coach and manage as many events as we can for the best results,” said Sanchez, adding these would likely be in the freestyle, back stroke and medley events plus some relays.
A silver medalist for Team Canada in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, she hinted that would like to emulate Vietnamese swimming queen Nguyen Ti Anh, who won eight golds in the 2017 Malaysia edition of the meet.
Her next major competition would be the World Championships in July 2025 in Singapore.
Sanchez felt proud that her parents, father Noel Sanchez and mother Maria, were with her in Malacanang where President Marcos Jr. feted the athletes and rewarded them with incentives.
“I am so happy that our parents were there in Malacanang. It meant so much for me, to give me the opportunities to be in this position,” she said with a lump in her throat.
Jarrod Hatch, 25, said he would take some time off to “let it (the Olympic experience) all soak in and process it. I am to take it one day at a time.
“The four-year Olympic cycle is taxing on both the body and the mind so I need to take a step back.”
Given the opportunity, the 6-foot-3 swimmer, who won a pair of bronze medals in the 32nd Cambodia SEA Games, wouldn’t mind having a go at another Olympic qualifying grind.
