Canadian swimmer Kayla Sanchez makes the move to the Philippines to represent her roots moving forward

After representing Canada in international swim competitions for the last six years, Kayla Sanchez has made the decision to move to the Philippines and represent the country of her parents’ origin. Sanchez has found success with Canada winning silver and bronze in Tokyo as a part of the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley, respectively.

The reigning junior record holder in the 50m freestyle has had great success with Canada even earning two silver and two bronze medals in Budapest just last month in the 19th FINA World Championships. Despite having found success in the country where she grew up, there was something internal nagging Sanchez to make the move and represent the country from which her family hails.

Sanchez’s new home has accepted and welcomed her into the country and are eager to see what she can bring to the swimming program.

“The Philippine Swimming, Inc. welcomes Sanchez with open arms and is committed to helping her achieve her goals in the next few years, including a possible stint at the Paris Olympics in 2024,” said Philippine Swimming Inc. president Lani Velasco.

Sanchez is embracing the opportunity despite struggling with the decision to make the move and when the timing would be right. At her first press conference in the Philippines, Sanchez shared, “It was a matter of timing and a question of timing and now is a good time to bring what I do and what I love here in the Philippines,” she said. “I think it’s a bigger picture of and a bigger meaning of using what I do and what I love to inspire Filipinos like me to commit to sports and show what they are capable of.”

While Sanchez would love the opportunity to represent her new host nation in Paris in 2024, it remains to be seen if she will be given the chance. On one hand, officials have said Sanchez only needs one year of residency before being eligible to represent her new country, but on the other hand, national coach Aldo Tong said Sanchez will need to be a resident for three years unless the International Swimming Federation (FINA), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the POC sign off on just one year of residency.

Regardless of whether or not Sanchez can compete at the Olympics in 2024, with her youth and strength on her side at just 21 years old, she could very well be seen at the 2028 Olympics in L.A. It will come as no surprise if Sanchez continues to collect medals at future international swimming events. However her main goal is to be an inspiration for the Filipino youth to get involved in sports of any kind.

“But in the end, I’m proud to be a Filipino, and if I inspire young kids and Filipinos in general just to start swimming, to start sport, it just means the world to me,” she said.