2025 SEA Games – Kayla Sanchez continues dream Southeast Asian Games debut
Over in the women’s events, Kayla Sanchez added medals number six and seven as she aims to become the most bemedalled athlete at the 33rd SEA Games.
The Team Philippines swimmer took the silver medal in the women’s 50m freestyle, before powering her team forward on the third leg for silver in the women’s 4x200m freestyle event on Sunday (14 December).
Sanchez has medalled in every event she has competed in at her debut Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok – with three golds and four silvers, she is one event away from a 100 per cent medal record.
In the 50m freestyle, the 24-year-old was beaten by 0.12s by Singapore’s Amanda Lim Xiang Qi, who set a new SEA Games record with a ferocious performance of 25.03. The bronze medal went to Sanchez’s Philippines teammate, Heather White.
With the Philippines in third upon Sanchez’s entry into the relay on the third leg, the double Olympic medallist brought them ahead of Singapore and within touching distance of Thailand. The hosts held on for a seismic triumph, while the Filipina quartet added silver to their 4x100m freestyle relay gold, ahead of bronze medallists Vietnam.
The swimming competition at the SEA Games concludes on Monday (15 December), with the schedule including the men’s and women’s breaststroke finals, women’s 4x100m medley final, and men’s 200m butterfly final.