Philippine swimming hopes to finally make a big splash in the coming new year under the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Two of the country’s brightest young swimmers certainly think so.
Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh and Marc Bryan Dula, dubbed by local sportswriters as the “future of Philippine swimming,” said the assurances of support of the PSC, headed by Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, serves as an inspiration to young swimmers like them to strive harder and bring honors to the country.
“We have already been assured of support by the PSC in both our local and international campaigns said Mojdeh during her appearance in the fourth “Usapang Sports” presented by the Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) at the National Press Club in Intramuros on Thursday.
“We’re very happy. This is really good news for all of us,” said the 12-year-old student of Immaculate Heart of Mary College-Parañaque, who bagged seven gold medals and established a new Philippine national junior record in 200m butterfly (2:25.82) during the 2018 Hamilton Aquatics Winter Long Course Swimming Championships in Dubai last week.
“We hope we can continue to win more golds for our country next year,” added Dula, who captured eight golds and one silver in the same event.
The two champion swimmers were accompanied by Mojdeh’s mother Joan and Philippine Swimming League coach Alex Papa, during the weekly session attended by sports editors, writers and photographers of the country’s leading tabloids.
“PSC Chairman Ramirez is pushing for this ‘Swim for All’ program. I think this is a good program by the PSC since this will give equal opportunity to all talented swimmers,” said the elder Mojdeh, who is also the PSL regional director for National Capital Region.
“Umaasa kami sa PSL sa mga magagandang pagbabago sa swimming community sa ilalim ni Chairman Ramirez next year,” added Mojdeh, a former triathlete and volleyball player herself before focusing on her daughter’s swimming career.
Mojdeh said her daughter Micaela is just one of the many young and talented swimmers from all over the country, who will greatly benefit in this “Swim for All” program of the PSC.
“As we have been saying in the PSL under Coach Susan Papa, there are a lot of talented swimmers in the country but we have to develop them in an extensive training program that involves not only the swimmer but the coaches and parents as well,” she explained.
Papa, who comes from a sports-oriented family, underscores the need for regular training and ample exposure in both local and international competitions for the country to produce world-class swimmers.
“In the PSL, we are looking at producing more young and talented swimmers who will someday represent the country in the SEA Games, Asian Games and even the Olympics,” said Papa, who came out of semi–retirement and personally took Dula under his wings.
”I won’t be surprised if the next Filipino swimmer who will make it to the Olympics will come from the PSL,” he added.
