KAYLA Sanchez was so close to ending the 28-year medal drought of the Philippines in the swimming event at the Asian Games.
The two-time Olympic medalist, however, missed the podium by a hairline in the 100-meter freestyle after clocking 53.65 seconds, just 0.18 second slower than bronze medalist Cheng Yukie of China, who clocked 53.17 seconds.
In her favorite 50-meter freestyle event, she was 0.29 second short of a bronze medal finish after clocking in 24.75 seconds. China’s Yujie Cheng bagged the bronze at 24.46 seconds.
Sanchez bared her emotions and expressed her disappointment for not taking home a medal.
“I guess I’m disappointed that I wasn’t able to bring the Philippines a medal, and I’m really sorry that I wasn’t able to do that. But I think the greater lesson here is not to be afraid to try,” said Sanchez who won two Olympic medals in Tokyo while representing Canada.
The last time the Philippines won a medal at the Asian Games was in 1988 when Raymond Papa captured two bronze medals in the 100-m and 200-m backstroke events.
Despite the heartaches in Nagoya, Sanchez is determined to bounce back.
“Yes, I am not done [in the Asian Games]. And I am motivated to get better results, and get better, and get faster,” she said.
“I love swimming. I love representing the Philippines, and I just want to do more,” she added.
Since Sanchez changed her federation from Canada to the Philippines in 2023, she said that her time has improved.
Sanchez was part of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medal team in the 4x100-m freestyle relay, and the bronze medal team in the 4x100-m medley relay.
The 25-year-old swimmer earned three gold medals and five silver medals in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
Sanchez understood that she was going against tough opponents in the Asian Games, and that motivated her to be better.
“Train very hard. Work in silence and come here for the glory and compete like you never lost. And that’s still the mentality that I hold,” she said.
“I have the greatest respect for my competitors. But at the same time, I want a medal for the Philippines.”
Sanchez, however, posted two new national records in swimming with a time of 28.19 seconds in the 50-meter backstroke event, and 24.75 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle.
“ I don’t know what’s going to happen in 5 years, but I know right now that I’m motivated to compete and give a medal for the Philippines in the next Asian Games,” she said.
