Kayla Sanchez began her 2024 Paris Olympic Games campaign on a high note by advancing to the semifinals of the women’s 100m freestyle on Tuesday. Competing against 30 swimmers across four heats, Sanchez secured her place in the Top 16 with a time of 53.67 seconds in Heat 4, her fastest performance since 2022.
“That’s the fastest time I’ve swum since 2022, two years now,” Sanchez told ABS-CBN News’ Dyan Castillejo. “My coach and I were planning exactly how to execute the race every single day. ‘How can we visualize my performance?’ And it’s great because I was able to execute it. Things are going so well,” she continued.
Sanchez finished tied for 10th overall in the heats with Anna Hopkin of Great Britain. Representing the Philippines for the first time in the Summer Games, she credited the support of Filipino fans for her advancement to the semis.
“It was so amazing. Merong isang babae, she’s French, katabi ko, and the crowd was losing their minds right before. It gives me butterflies and makes me excited.”
World record-holder Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden topped the heats with a time of 52.99 seconds and will be among the 15 swimmers Sanchez will face in the semis.
Sanchez’s 53.67-second finish also set a new national record, breaking her previous record of 54.25 seconds, which she achieved at the Mel Zajac Jr. International Meet in Canada last month. Despite this accomplishment, Sanchez remains focused on improving for the semifinals.
“I’ll improve and reconvene with my coach. We’ll go over the race and how it went. I know that there were little things in the race that I could’ve improved on,” she said. “I’ll have more coffee tonight,” she quipped.
The semifinals are scheduled for Wednesday, July 31, at 3:33 a.m., and Sanchez is determined to repay the support of her countrymen. “I’m gonna give it my all. I know I have more, and thank you for the support. Maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong suporta,” said the two-time Olympic medalist.