Fil-Am swimming sensation set to make waves at Junior Worlds in Israel

Photo from swimcloud.com

While water is the driving force of nature, it’s also what propels 17-year-old Filipino-American Gian Santos to push past his limits and succeed in swimming.

With his sights set on the upcoming World Aquatics Junior Swimming Championships happening from Sept. 4 to 9 in Israel, Santos’ journey is one of commitment, resilience, and pursuit of dreams.

Just a few years ago, Santos was at a crossroads owing to a health scare that left him uncertain about his future in swimming.

“Not being able to swim, I was thinking about how much this sport really meant to me, and if I lost it all, I would be a completely different person,” he said in an interview. “That was a really scary time as swimming means so much to me,” Santos added.

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But this determined Fil-Am teen refused to be intimidated by the uncertainty. Armed with his unwavering spirit and with the help of an inhaler, he took the plunge once again.

Fast forward to today, Santos used this setback as his stepping stones to success. Last year, the swimmer from Rancho Santa Margarita, California made his mark at the Southeast Asia Age Group Championships in Malaysia, bringing home a silver medal and three bronzes where he finished in the Top 5 in eight events.

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Gian’s journey to excellence

Last July seems to be a pivotal month for him as he etched his name on Philippine swimming record books when he set new national bests in the 200m and 400m individual medleys at the 2023 Los Angeles Invitational.

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His skills propelled him to qualify for the 100m, 200m, and 400m freestyle events after meeting the minimum 680 World Aquatics points. Joining him to compete in Israel are Alexander Eichler, Teia Salvino, Jasmine Mojdeh, and Heather White.

Santos currently follows a rigorous schedule with eight practice sessions every week until Saturday. When asked about representing the country, he humbly says, “Being able to get the Philippine record after all the hard work, it really makes it all worth it.” If everything goes well in Israel, Santos’ next stop would be in the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, in February 2024.