The 33rd Southeast Asian Games marked a historic resurgence for Philippine swimming, ending a 12-year gold medal drought with an impressive haul of three golds, nine silvers, and two bronzes.
Kayla Sanchez led the charge, winning three golds and five silvers, while the women’s 4×100-m freestyle relay team—including Heather White, Xiandi Chua, and Chloe Isleta—clinched the country’s first relay gold in years.
Despite fielding a mostly rookie lineup, the national team delivered lifetime-best performances, earning praise from head coach Ryan Arabejo and Australian coach Michal Zbigniew Skrodzk for their “Olympic-caliber” talent.
Other medalists included White, Chua, and Gian Santos with silvers, and White and Logan Wataru Noguchi with bronzes.
The SEA Games success sets a promising foundation for Philippine swimming as the team prepares for future competitions over the next two years.
Source: PhilNews24 | December 24, 2025
