Swimmer Kayla Sanchez now eligible for PH team in Paris Olympics
At A Glance
- In a letter addressed to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino dated Nov. 29, the IOC Executive Board “decided to consent to your request the three-year waiting period” of Sanchez in order to be eligible to compete for the PH flag.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has formally approved the application of swimmer Kayla Sanchez to represent the Philippines in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In a letter addressed to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Bambol Tolentino dated Nov. 29, the IOC Executive Board “decided to consent to your request the three-year waiting period” of Sanchez in order to be eligible to compete for the PH flag.
The 22-year-old Sanchez has been representing Canada for the past years including at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she won the silver medal as part of the 4x100-meter freestyle relay, as well as a bronze in the 4x100m medley relay.
But in July 2022, the Fil-Canadian announced that she is switching nationalities, where she first don the national tri-colors at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China a few months ago.
Though Sanchez failed to bring home a medal in the Asiad, she and her teammates were able to sink national team records – a good sign for better things to come.
While Sanchez can now compete under the PH flag in Paris, she needs to hit the qualification standard to earn a berth.
She can also be nominated by the national swimming federation through the Universality Rule.
Born to Filipino parents who trace their roots from Mabalacat, Pampanga and Baguio City, Sanchez is among the elite athletes that are expected to deliver medals in Paris.
Only one swimmer won in the Olympics for Team Philippines: Teofilo Yldefonso, who won the men’s 200m breaststroke bronze both in the 1928 Amsterdam and 1932 Los Angeles editions.