SEA Games: Chloe Isleta wins Philippines’ first swimming gold in Hanoi

Philippines’ swimming gold medalist Chloe Isleta. LANI VELASCO/PH SWIMMING INC

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines won its first gold medal in swimming courtesy of Chloe Isleta on Monday in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Isleta ruled the women’s 200-meter backstroke event, clocking in at 2:18.60, more than a second faster than her closest pursuer, Indonesia’s Nurul Fajar Fitriyati.

The Indonesian swimmer wound up with the silver after with a time of 2:19.79 while Thailand’s Mia Millar came in third at 02:19.90.

The gold comes after Jessica Geriane’s silver medal in women’s 50m backstroke, where Isleta placed fourth, and Miranda Renner’s bronze finish in women’s 100 m freestyle.

This is the second straight SEA Games where the swimming team is bringing home a gold medal after James Deiparine broke decade-long gold medal drought in 2019 with a win in men’s 100m breaststroke.