Kayla Sanchez: Olympian and SEA Games champion leading Philippine swimming

Standing atop the podium multiple times, Kayla Sanchez emerged as the driving force behind the Philippines’ most impressive SEA Games swimming campaign in over a decade. 

The Filipino-Canadian standout didn’t just collect medals, she showcased energy, confidence, and international experience into a team hungry for international dominance.

Sanchez’s presence symbolized a new chapter for Philippine swimming. Her world-class pedigree, earned from competing at the Olympic level, gave the team a competitive edge, inspiring teammates and signaling that the Philippines can contend with the nation’s best. 

Career Highlights Before Representing the Philippines

Born in Singapore and raised in Canada to Filipino parents, Sanchez built her name on the global stage long before wearing the Philippine colors. 

She claimed three gold medals at the 2017 World Junior Championships and another three gold medals at the 2021 Short Course World Championships, signaling early on that she was destined for international stardom.

Sanchez was also part of Canada’s historic relay teams at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, capturing a silver medal in the women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay and a bronze in the 4×100-meter medley relay. These podium finishes established her as one of the premier sprint freestylers of her generation.

Known for her explosive starts and strong closing splits, she developed into a reliable relay anchor and a consistent individual contender on the world stage.

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COUNT ‘EM

Unboxing ba? Kayla Sanchez wears all eight medals she got over six days of swimming competition at SEA Games 2025. She says it takes a village to reach this level. | via Katrina Alba/One Sports#2025SEAGames #SEAGames #TibayAtTatag #SEAGames33 pic.twitter.com/6cK8liZZw0

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) December 17, 2025

Sanchez, transitioned from representing Canada to the Philippines to carry forward her father’s dream and celebrate her Filipino heritage. Although she enjoyed success with Team Canada, including a medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she embraced the move as an opportunity to take on a new challenge while strengthening her ties to her roots. 

“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,” Sanchez said in her decision to represent the Philippines last 2022 in front of the Philippine Swimming Incorporated in a press release at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig City. 

She was then approved by the governing body of World Aquatics to represent the Philippines in all international competitions starting July 6, 2023 where she set her sights for the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. 

The Canadian turned Filipina swimming bet failed to secure a medal finishing only fifth in the women’s 100m freestyle event. 

SEA Games 2025 Record Breaking Run

Sanchez made a spectacular debut for the Philippines at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand. Emerging as the most bemedalled Filipino athlete.

Sanchez was the one who spearheaded a historic medal haul, three golds and five silver medals. Her performance was pivotal in lifting the Philippine swimming to heights.

She anchored a thrilling 4x100m freestyle relay alongside teammates Xiandi Chua, Chloe Isleta, and Heather White, before asserting her dominance individually in both the 100m freestyle and 100m backstroke, proving she’s as lethal in relays as she is in solo.

With her speed, versatility, and leadership in the water, Sanchez proved that a single athlete can change the trajectory of an entire sport—turning a collection of talented swimmers into a cohesive, medal-winning powerhouse.

Making waves for future Filipino swimmers

The 24-year-old swimmer’s breakout SEA Games performance didn’t just add to the Philippines’ pride but it reignited a sport that has long sought a breakthrough on the international stage. With national records falling and firsts achieved, Sanchez’s presence has helped spark renewed investment and enthusiasm in Filipino swimming. 

Beyond the medals, her success also carries financial rewards under the country’s incentive laws, including a possible ₱1.2 million reward for her medal haul in recognition of the value of her contributions to Philippine sport. 

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