YOG: 18th seed Oliva places 6th in women’s 400m freestyle final

Nicole Justine Marie Oliva. June Navarro/INQUIRER PHOTO

BUENOS AIRES—Nicole Justine Marie Oliva had to forgo a mind-boggling offer from the United States to represent the Philippines in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

That decision made the country doubly proud on Friday after the 16-year-old figured in the finals of the women’s 400-meter freestyle against the best under-18 tankers in the world.

Oliva placed sixth out of eight finalists in the race and clocked four minutes and 16.61 seconds, definitely a surprise act for the California-based Filipina, who was seeded 18th in the event.

“I’m happy about the turnout. I just want to enjoy my experience here,” said Oliva, who, apart from the 400m, qualified in three other freestyle events—100m, 200m and 800m.

She also made it to the finals of the 200m free on Wednesday before topping her heat in the 400m early Friday in 4:16.72 to advance to the medal race.

Ajna Kesely of Hungary captured the 400m free gold medal in 4:07.14 with Argentina’s Delfina Pignatiello (4:10.40) and Marlene Kahler of Austria (4:12.48) settling for the silver and bronze.

“Making the finals is really special. We didn’t expect this, she is the first Filipina to have four QTAs (qualifying time A) in the YOG,” said Philippine Swimming Inc. president Lani Velasco, thankful for the financial support that the Philippine Sports Commission had given to Oliva. “She is the future of Philippine swimming.”

Up next for Oliva, a junior high at St. Francis School in Mountainview, California, is the Southeast Asian age group swimming championships in Cambodia in July 2019 prior to the Philippine hosting of the 30th SEA Games.

She will also swim in the Olympic trials in the United States come March and work on qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Oliva’s father, Mark, bared that her daughter got an offer to swim for the US national team in the YOG.

“Nicole told them (US swim officials) that she has already signed up for the Philippines in the Youth Olympics,” said the elder Oliva, who saw Nicole’s potential at a very early age when a lifeguard in a Cebu beach resort offered to teach their daughter how to swim more than 15 years ago.

Over at the archery range in Technopolis, Nicole Tage will pair Hendrik Oun of Estonia at the start of their mixed international event on Saturday while Kiteboarder Christian Tio ended up third twice in three rounds to keep himself in strong contention for a medal.

Meanwhile, Yuka Sao and Carl Janno Corpus will start their campaign in the team event at the Hurlingham Club here.