Retired Olympian Lacuna sees PH swimming, now with a united front, heading for bright future

Jessie Lacuna retires after having represented the Philippines in two Olympic stagings. —AFP

Two-time Olympic swimmer Jessie Lacuna feels at peace with his decision to retire, knowing that his treasured sport will be left in good hands.

“I see a super bright future for Philippine swimming. There were low times when I served [in the national team] for 10 years, but the support that swimming has been getting now has really lifted our sport,’’ said Lacuna, a representative of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Athletes Commission.

Filipino swimmers didn’t disappoint during the aquatics competition of the 30th Southeast Asian Games late last year as the country finally nailed a gold medal after a decadelong wait through breaststroke ace James Deiparine.

Deiparine clocked a new SEA Games record of 1:01.46 in the men’s 100-meter, highlighting the Philippine output of one gold, seven silver and 10 bronze medals during the Games held at New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac province.

Lacuna attributed the progress to the support that Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI), the local governing body for aquatics, has been receiving from the Philippine Sports Commission and POC.“It was such an honor to represent our country in different international tournaments,’’ said Lacuna, who competed in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro (400-meter freestyle) and 2012 London (200-meter free) Olympics.“Now, there’s a much better and improved system for the athletes,’’ he added.

PSI president Lani Velasco infused new life into the biggest Olympic sport of at least 45 events—including diving and synchronized swimming, water polo and open water swimming—since taking over as aquatics chief.

Open to everyone

Under the stewardship of Velasco, swimmers from the Philippine Swimming League were able to join forces with the PSI, finally ending a long-drawn rift that divided the swimming community that began more than a decade ago.

“PSI’s doors are open to one and all. I firmly believe that ending the gold medal drought in the SEA Games last year is just the beginning and more can be achieved when we swim as one,’’ Velasco said.

At the end of 2019, PSI members ballooned to 2,336 swimmers, 164 coaches, 72 team managers and 88 teams/clubs from other disciplines.