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Sanchez, Hatch poised to make history for PH in Paris Games
Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch are on the mission to end a near-century long drought as they represent Philippine swimming in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Swimming is considered as one of the richest sources of medals for multi-sports events like the Olympics and with the Philippines making great use of the country’s geography to produce exceptional tankers.
Teofilo Yldefonso started the trend of Filipino success in swimming - and in the Olympics overall - by being the first Filipino and Southeast Asian Olympic medalist.
He nabbed two bronze medals when he bannered the country in men’s 200 meters breaststroke in both 1928 Amsterdam and 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games.
Since then, however, the Philippines has been in a constant search of that next great swimmer, one that both Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch would like to snap in Paris.
PHOTO COURTESY: ABS-CBN NEWS
"I am very grateful that I have this opportunity and I am being put in this position to represent the Philippines," said Sanchez during an interview with OneSports.
“I work hard everyday to make sure that I make people proud, I make the country proud,” Hatch told OneSports. “I vow to give my best throughout the competition.”
Sanchez is no stranger to competing on the sport’s biggest stage like the Olympics, having represented Canada in the Tokyo Summer Games where even captured two medals after her camp finished second in the 4x100m freestyle relay and third in 4x100m medley relay.
This time in Paris, though, the 23-year-old tanker will do it one more time under different colors where she is tipped to display her prowess and deliver for the medal-hungry nation.
On the other hand, Hatch was ready to bid swimming goodbye when he initially called it quits in 2021 following years of competitive action that saw him get exhausted both physically and mentally.
However, the Southeast Asian medalist decided to come out of his retirement after more than a year and once again represented the Philippines.
Now, he is heading to his first Olympic stint and is part of the country’s 22-man delegation for the Paris Games.
The 25-year-old Hatch will see action in the men’s 100 meters butterfly and while the competition is expected to be an uphill battle, he is expected to make the most of his maiden Summer Games stint.
Sanchez opens her campaign for the women’s 100m freestyle heats on July 30, Tuesday, while Hatch begins his bid on Friday, August 2.
