Tokyo Olympic Medalist Switches Teams from Canada to PH

Canadian Olympic medalist Kayla Sanchez is switching her swimming allegiance from Canada to the Philippines, according to a press release from Swimming Canada on Thursday, July 7.

Sanchez, 21, has already hinted at the possibility with Swimming Canada earlier this year. The swimming organization then granted her request and released her immediately after the world championships.

Her last day representing Canada was June 25.

Sanchez said in the Swimming Canada press release that she had been considering the move for a while after “achieving her dream” of representing Canada for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and winning double medals.

She added that she is proud of being Filipino.

“I’ve always been really proud of my Filipino heritage,” Sanchez said.

She added that although the decision was a difficult one, she needed to make the choice and inspire people to swim and “get into the sport“.

“Aside from how much I’ve grown and how good everything has been in Canada, I needed to make this really difficult decision for myself and my family to take this opportunity to represent the Philippines. I want to help inspire people that are like me to swim and get into the sport,” Sanchez added.

Sanchez also said that she is “forever grateful” for Canada.

“I am so thankful and appreciative of Canada. I wouldn’t be the athlete I am today without the support and how much I grew and learned,” Sanchez said. “It’s just a point in my life where it’s time for a change. I am stepping into a new point in my swim career where I can start to focus on myself and at the same time I’m hoping to help people in the Philippines,” Sanchez said.

Swimming Canada wished Kayla Sanchez well as she sought to represent the Philippines in international swimming.

“Kayla has been a great team member, centre member and swimmer for Canada and we will miss her,” High Performance Director and National Coach John Atkinson said.

He added that the loss of Canada will be the Philippines’ gain.

“She brought such a positive energy to our teams, as well as great swimming. Our loss will be the Philippines’ gain, but we support her in this transition as it is the direction she wishes to follow for personal and family reasons. We sincerely wish her nothing but the best in her future swimming,” Atkinson added.

Sanchez has been a member of the senior Canadian national team since 2017 and made her debut at the FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary that year.

Her last meet for Canada was back in Budapest for the FINA World Championships in June, and was one of three Canadians to win four medals, joining fellow swimmers Summer McIntosh and Penny Oleksiak.

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Sanchez Canada’s silver-winning 400 free relay in the finals and swam in prelims with the medley relay, winning the bronze medal. (GFB)