NAGOYA, JAPAN — Filipina-Canadian Olympian Kayla Sanchez admitted it was heartbreaking for her after she narrowly missed the podium in the Women's 50m Freestyle Final at the 2026 Asian Games, but despite the disappointment the swimmer is determined to keep pushing forward.
Entering the Aichi-Nagoya pool, the national swimming star was widely regarded by Filipino fans as a heavy favorite to secure a medal, with many hoping she would capture the gold. However, the high-stakes championship heat pitted her against a formidable wall of world champions, notably China's Wu Qingfeng and Cheng Yujie, alongside Hong Kong's highly decorated global star Siobhan Haughey.
Mirroring her fourth-place finish in the 100m freestyle final earlier in the week, Sanchez delivered a blistering performance in the splash-and-dash event. She clocked a time of 24.75 seconds, shattering her own national record.
In a candid post-meet interview posted on the official Facebook page of the Philippine Olympic Committee, Sanchez shared her raw emotions following the touch.
“I’m disappointed that I wasn’t able to bring Philippines a medal and I'm really sorry that I wasn’t able to do that,” Sanchez admitted. “But I think the greater lesson here is not to be afraid to try, stay focused, and I'm improving. I've gotten faster since my nationality switch and I'm assuming this is my second fastest 50m free since Tokyo in 2021. I'm not done. I'm so going to push, I'm so gonna continue to fight because I want Philippines to get that medal.”
Sanchez reflected on the mental reset required at world-class meets, emphasizing the importance of processing grief quickly to keep the ultimate goal in sight.
“I allow myself to be sad and to be angry, but you don’t have much time,” Sanchez explained. “You have to be able to refocus and wake up the next day and to be able to put it all behind you, remember your training, and get excited for the next one. I’m not done. I’m motivated to have better results, get better and get faster, and that is what drives me. I love swimming, I love representing the Philippines, and I just want to do more. I want a medal for the Philippines. Thank you so much for supporting me. I’m so proud to be Filipino.”
While the immediate outcome brings heartache, Sanchez made it clear that her mission to bring glory to the Philippines is far from over. She hopes her continuous journey inspires the next generation of grassroots athletes across the nation.
“I’m still upset with myself, but all I can do is continue to push and continue to dedicate my life to representing the Philippines and bringing home that medal, because I want that,” Sanchez said. “I want the younger Filipino swimmers to see that you shouldn’t be afraid to try, and stay focused, continue to work hard and you will get the glory.”
