Kayla Sanchez debuts under Philippine colors in second Olympic stint

Swimmer Kayla Sanchez is no stranger to competing in the sport's biggest stage like the Olympics, having represented Canada in the Tokyo Summer Games where she even captured two medals for the Great White North.

This time in Paris, though, the 23-year-old tanker will do it one more time under different colors.

Sanchez, alongside fellow swimmer Jarod Hatch, has qualified for the upcoming Olympics where she is tipped to display her prowess and deliver for the medal-hungry nation.

Who is Kayla Sanchez?

Sanchez was born in Singapore but grew up in Canada, which she represented for the good part of her life until she decided to switch her affiliations to the Philippines in July 2023.

Under the Canadian federation, Sanchez was nothing short of phenomenal.

She won five medals during the 2017 FINA World Junior Championships, seizing three gold medals in 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relay events and 4x100m medley relay, while winning silver and bronze in 200m individual medley and 100m freestyle, respectively.

After jumping to the senior ranks, Sanchez continued her brilliance.

She copped two bronze plums during the FINA World Championships in 2019, finishing third in 4x100m freestyle relay and 4x200m freestyle relay before topping the 50m freestyle event in Canadian Olympic Swimming Trials to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

In Tokyo, Sanchez brought home two medals after her camp finished second in the 4x100m freestyle relay and third in 4x100m medley relay.

Philippine stint

Sanchez formally made her Philippine debut during the 19th Asian Games in China after deciding to skip the world championship last year to focus on the quadrennial continental event. 

At the Asiad, Sanchez and the rest of the quartet made up of Xandi Chua, Teia Salvino, and Jasmine Alkhaldi wound up fifth as host China clocked in tournament record of three minutes and 33.96 second to rule the event while Japan and Hong Kong came second and third. 

Sanchez is hoping to bring that momentum all the way to France. 

Sanchez and Hatch were able to qualify through the universality places with the former seeing action in the women's 100m freestyle event while her secondary event is 100m backstroke. The second one, however, depends on the confirmation from the Games organizers as universality places are only given to one event per player. 

—JKC, GMA Integrated News