Finally, unity in PH swimming

Pledging to unite their efforts are (from L-R) former PSC commissioner Akiko Thompson, PSI president Ral Rosario, PSL head Susan Papa and PSL Secretary General Dr. Susan Benasa. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Chalk another victory up for sports.

The embattled national swimming program saw light in the horizon Tuesday when leaders of two warring organizations agreed to unify themselves to further the development of the sport.

Philippine Swimming Inc. head Ral Rosario and Philippine Swimming League chief Susan Papa have vowed to unify their efforts toward a truly national program when the two met in a press conference Tuesday morning at Behrouz Persian Cuisine in Quezon City.

The united stand by both now allows the PSI to include talents from the PSL in its pool of athletes for the formation of national teams to international competitions.

Rosario said the unification provides hope of a “turnaround of Philippine swimming from bad to best.”

Papa and the PSL had long been at loggerheads with the PSI, especially when the national federation of swimming was under former president Mark Joseph.

But the PSI’s recognition of PSL has made Papa optimistic that her pool of swimmers will finally get “the chance to win for the country.”
Papa was joined by PSL secretary general Dr. Susan Benasa while former pool star Akiko Thompson accompanied Rosario.

The development is seen as part of the sporting community’s effort to heed the call of new Olympic chief Ricky Vargas to shoot for inclusion instead of exclusion.

Rosario called the development a “new era for swimming that will finally mend (the sport).”