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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Kayla Sanchez bags third gold, tops 100m backstroke

Kayla Sanchez bags third gold, tops 100m backstroke

Published Dec 13, 2025 09:43 pm

At A Glance

  • BANGKOK – Kayla Sanchez made sure to give her father a birthday to remember by winning her third gold medal in the women's 100-meter backstroke in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games at the SAT Swimming Pool on Saturday, Dec. 13.
BANGKOK – Kayla Sanchez made sure to give her father a birthday to remember by winning her third gold medal in the women’s 100-meter backstroke in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games at the SAT Swimming Pool on Saturday, Dec. 13.
The Filipina Olympian made a splash anew and topped the race with a 1:02.35 time to add another gold mint to her growing collection.
“I’m speechless. It’s been a long competition. I still have four more events to go so I’m just taking it day by day and I knew I had to go out fast, just keep it together and stay calm in the last 50,” said Sanchez.
“It’s also my dad’s birthday today so I wanted to win this medal for him. I wanted to win gold for the Philippines,” she added.
Sanchez’s gold, however, was the lone medal PH got in swimming after Xiandi Chua, Kayla Bulaga, Gian Christian Santos all fell short of the podium while Jasmin Mojdeh pulled out of the women’s 100-meter butterfly due to fever.
Over at the Supachalasai National Stadium, Philippine athletics added a huge haul of medals with Yacine Guermali leading the way with the silver in the men’s 5000 meter.
Compatriot and national teammate Sonny Wagdos came in third for the bronze. Likewise, Bianca Espenilla in javelin throw, William Morrison in shot put, Joida Gagnao in the 5000m, and the mixed relay team in the 4x400m race all delivered a bronze medal.
The Day 4 of the competition closed out with the Philippines sliding one place to the sixth spot after only hiking its gold tally to 15 to go with 23 silvers and 52 bronzes. Malaysia took PH’s previous spot with 16 golds, 15 silvers and 48 bronzes.
Still at the top is Thailand (95-60-39) followed by Indonesia (31-43-36), Vietnam (30-29-54) and Singapore (19-19-25).
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