Swimming Pinas hopes to produce the next Filipino world champions through a more extensive training program highlighted by exposure in both local and international competitions.
To do this, Swimming Pinas is bridging the gap between the Philippine Swimming, Inc. (PSI), the duly recognized swimming association in the country, and Philippine Swimming League (PSL), the leading group noted for its strong grassroots development program.
Swimming Pinas team manager Joan Mojdeh paint a bright future for local swimming following recent developments that include unity talks among various stakeholders in the sport.
TOPS President Ed Andaya with Swim Pinas
"Our ultimate goal in Swimming Pinas is to create a world champion in swimming. We're very confident we can do it with the help of both the PSI and PSL," said Modjeh during their appearance in the 21st "Usapang Sports" Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) at the National Press Club in Intramuros last Thursday.
Modjeh expressed confidence that Swim Pilipinas mainstays, led by Jasmine Micaela Modjeh and Marc Bryan Dula, can hold their own against swimmers from other clubs and schools based on their training with the PSL.
"In the Swim Pilipinas, we gathered 20 elite swimmers of the PSL Sila yun mga magagamit at malalakas na swimmers natin all over the country. We are now giving them a chance to reach their full potential through proper training and guidance," said Modjeh, who guested with coach Virgie De Luna and top Swim Pilipinas mainstays.
“Malaki ang potential ng aming mga swimmers na makasama sa national team in the future. Hopefully, makalangoy sila this coming SEA Games in December,” added Mojdeh in the weekly forum sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, National Press Club, PAGCOR, Community Basketball Association, and HG Guyabano Tea Leaf Drinks.
Modjeh said Swim Pilipinas mainstays performed well in the recent PSI qualifying leg.
"Fortunately, lahat ng lumaban, including my daughter Jasmine, qualified to the national finals this July. Most of them May tatlo pa na hindi pa nakasama dahil nag Palarong Pambansa. Pupunta kami sa Dagupan on June 1-2 para makalahok sila sa next PSI qualifying leg."
Modjeh revealed Swim Pilipinas members will have a very busy schedule as they vie for slots to the national team in the coming 30Th SEA Games.late this year.
Three of the major events in the calendar are an international invitational event in Canada next month, the ASEAN School Games in Jakarta this July, Asian age-group swimming championships in India in September and FINA World Cup in Singapore.
"After the Asian competition, we're aiming for the SEAG. The PSI will choose members of the national team. Hopefully, may makapasok sa amin," explained Modjeh.
"Kung kaya mag Top 2 sa Asian tournament sa India, pwede na talaga sila sa SEA Games."
Coach De Luna, on the other hand, noted the impressive performances of Swim Pilipinas members in the recent Palarong Pambansa in Davao City.
“All our swimmers won medals in the Palarong Pambansa. Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh even broke two junior national records," said De Luna.
The 12-year-old Mojdeh established a new record in the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:22.69, breaking the old mark 2:25.21 by Suzanne Vernon.
Also present during the forum were Julia Basa, Triza Tabamo, Marcus Dekam, Jules Mirandilla, John Neil Paderes, Jordan Ken Lobos, and Joco Delizo.