Filipina swimmer Kayla Sanchez breaks national record but misses finals

Filipina swimmer Kayla Sanchez broke her national record but missed out on a spot in the final of the women's 100m freestyle at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, finishing 15th overall.

Sanchez clocked an impressive time of 53.67 seconds during the heats to break her previous record and finish tenth overall, but fell short with a seventh-place finish in the semifinals and a time of 54.21 seconds, securing only the top eight spots for the final.

Born in Singapore and raised in Toronto with Filipino immigrant parents from Pampanga and Baguio City, Sanchez's achievement highlights the potential of Filipino athletes regardless of ethnic background or height.

Despite her exit from the semifinals, Sanchez expressed gratitude for the opportunities she had during the Games and emphasized that she will use her summer break to reflect and refresh before striving to be better in future competitions.

Sanchez previously represented Canada and won silver and bronze medals at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago as part of the team that won silver in the 4x100m freestyle and the 4x100m medley, making her Olympic debut for the Philippines a memorable one despite not advancing to the final.

In an interview with Olympics broadcaster One Sports, Sanchez vowed to bounce back stronger after her early exit from the Paris Games and expressed hope to bring honor to the country in future international tournaments.