Filipino-Canadian swimmer Kayla Sanchez exits Paris Olympics

Filipino-Canadian swimmer Kayla Sanchez concluded her 2024 Paris Olympics bid after failing to qualify for the women's 100m freestyle finals.

She finished seventh in her semifinal heat and 15th overall with a time of 54.21 seconds, missing the top-eight cutoff.

Despite her exit, Sanchez enjoyed a memorable Olympic debut for the Philippines, resetting her own national record in the heats with a time of 53.67 seconds.

Sanchez stated that she was "not super happy" with her semifinal swim and "just need[s] more confidence in the race" for future competitions.

She expressed hope that her hard training would translate to podium finishes one day.

She previously competed for Canada, earning two Olympic silver medals at the Tokyo Games, and her switch to represent the Philippines was approved in 2023.

Sanchez was happy with the opportunities she had in Paris, especially with her family watching and the support of the Filipino people.