Kayla Noelle Sanchez is now a Philippine national team member. –PSI PHOTO
It’s going to take a while before the country can savor the thrill of having an Olympic medalist represent the Philippines.
But Kayla Noelle Sanchez doesn’t mind spending a necessary hiatus doing other things to improve local swimming.
“If I’m able to inspire young kids, my fellow Filipinos in general, just to start swimming, to start sport, it means a world to me and will give actual meaning to what I do,’’ said Sanchez during a media briefing on Thursday.
The 21-year-old ace from Toronto, Canada, could be the first Filipino to get on swimming’s Olympic podium since Teofilo Yldefonso’s bronze medals in the 1928 Amsterdam and 1932 Los Angeles Games.
“I’m always striving to get better. I’m very hardworking and I want to achieve great things for the Philippines, so let’s say gold medal and you guys can hold me to it,’’ said Sanchez, who played a vital role as Canada secured a silver medal (women’s 4×100 meter freestyle relay) and a bronze (4×100 m medley relay) in last year’s Tokyo Olympics.
At the urging of parents Susana and Noel and through the efforts of Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI), Sanchez will now try to replicate her success for her home country.
“I’m proud of my heritage, I’m proud to be a Filipino, so I’m excited with this new journey. I’m confident in what I can do and I want to bring it up here, and do it for a bigger purpose than just winning medals,’’ said Sanchez.
The freestyle specialist can kick off her stint with the national team in the Fina (International Swimming Federation) World Championships in Japan after a 12-month residency in the country. For the 2024 Paris Olympics, Sanchez needs a three-year residency, but that could be shortened with the help of Fina, the International Olympic Committee and the Philippine Olympic Committee, according to national coach Aldo Tong.
“I think now is the time to bring what I do and what I love here in the Philippines,’’ said Sanchez.
Sanchez is likewise a multiple medalist in the world championships with silver medals in the women’s 4×100 m freestyle and mixed 4×100 m freestyle and bronzes in the 4×200 m free and 4×100 m medley during last month’s Fina World Championships in Hungary.
“Kayla is a role model for Filipinos, not just in Canada or the Philippines, but all over the world,’’ said PSI president Lailani Velasco. “Our gratitude goes to Swimming Canada for being able to develop Kayla into the successful swimmer that she is today … [and] for agreeing to Kayla’s request for her to transfer to the Philippines.’’