INQUIRER Sports

THE NEXT TWO WEEKS -- OR THE DURATION of the Beijing Olympics -- will chart the course of Miguel Molina’s career.

“I’m treating this as my last,” said Molina of his stint in Beijing, which is his second Olympic appearance. “After that I might decide to get on with my life and get a job.

“I will give you a more definitive answer in the next two weeks, it all depends on how the Olympics turns out,” added Molina, the 23-year-old national swimmer who has won seven gold medals the past two Southeast Asian Games. He was also named the Most Outstanding Male Athlete in the 2007 SEAG edition in Thailand.

Born to Filipino parents now based in Tokyo, Molina started swimming at the age of six and migrated to the United States at 17. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree at the University of California-Berkeley last year.

Molina, however, doesn’t discount the possibility of competing in the Laos SEAG next year.

He was named flag bearer of the RP delegation in the Beijing Games but was replaced at the last minute by WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao.

“Manny is a hero and idol of many Filipinos and it’s only fitting that the country’s flag is carried by somebody like him,” said Molina.

For first-timers Daniel Coakley and Christel Simms, the Olympics is a big step in their budding swim careers.

“I didn’t expect to qualify, so when coach Pinky (Brosas) told me I’m going to Beijing, I had to ask, you mean the Olympics?,” said Coackley, 17, grandson of two-time Olympic bronze winner Teofilo Yldefonso.

Simms, who is also from Hawaii, said winning the gold is a long-term goal.

“I want to place as high as I can in Beijing,” she said.

“Hopefully, we could use this experience and eventually get to that first gold medal before anyone else does,” added Coakley.

Comebacking Olympian JB Walsh and newcomer Ryan Arabejo are also in the
five-man swim team hoping to end the country’s 76-year medal drought in the sport.