Fil-Canadian Olympian Kayla Sanchez holds swim camp in Pampanga

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After her semi-final appearance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Filipino Canadian swimmer Kayla Sanchez returned to Pampanga. While she’s eager to push herself even further after her Olympic campaign, she first focused on sharing her skills with aspiring Olympic swimmers in the area.

Posting photos on Instagram, the two-time Olympian and medalist, who once represented Canada and now competes for the Philippines, held a three-day swimming camp in her father’s hometown.

“Pampanga!,” she wrote with two heart emojis, “My father’s hometown, and a great place to host my first 3-day swim camp for the up-and-coming Olympians here.”

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A post shared by Kayla Sanchez (@kaylasanchez_)

During the camp at New Clark City, Sanchez expressed her strong belief that future Olympians will emerge from the region, referring to the young participants as “up-and-coming Olympians.” In her social media post about the camp, she also encouraged them, saying, “Believe in yourself!”

The 23-year-old Fil-Canadian swimmer also expressed her gratitude to New Clark City for hosting the camp and to Speedo Philippines “for surprising the swimmers with prizes.” She gave a special shout-out to Coach Dax and Coach Michael for their assistance during the camp.

The post received an outpouring of thanks from followers, with many expressing their appreciation for Sanchez’s dedication to helping young Filipinos. One user commented, “Thank you for your service & dedication to the craft & to the country,” highlighting the camp’s significance for the young swimmers.

During this year’s Summer Games, the two-time Tokyo Olympic medalist, who represented Canada in 2020, set a new national record by finishing fourth in her heat with a time of 53.67 seconds, which qualified her for the semifinals. She ultimately finished 10th overall in the qualifying match.

However, Sanchez’s hopes for another medal for the Philippines were dashed in the semifinal match. She finished seventh in the women’s 100-meter freestyle with a time of 54.21 seconds, concluding her campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics at La Defense Arena.