The country’s top junior and elite swimmers under the banner of Philippine BEST (Behrouz Elite Swimming Team) and Swim League Philippines take their strokes to new heights as they plunge into action against the best of Europe and the world in the prestigious 10th Circle of Swimmers of Melun Val de Seine slated May 13 to 15 in Paris, France.
BEST team manager Joan Mojdeh announced recently that the team will be joining the high-level tournament in an effort to strengthen the physical and mental condition of the swimmers, while exposing them to top-level competition.
“Our mission is to enhance the talents of our swimmers from grassroots to elite. Unti-unti na-achieve namin ito for years and now isinama na namin sa programa ang international tournaments. Kailangan ng mga bata ang experience and an international competition is the best for them,” said Mojdeh.
No less than Tokyo Olympics’ gold medalist Swiss Jérémy Desplanches leads the elite cast in the tournament, which is expected to draw the participation of the best junior and elite swimmers in Europe, United States, Brazil, and China, among others.
“The last time we checked the event calendar, lalaro rin sina European champion Enzo Tesic at Charlotte Bonnet. Malaking kompetisyon ito na lalahukan ng mga Olympian at European champions,” Mojdeh added.
Coming off an astonishing campaign in the FINIS Short Course swim series in Clark under the banner of Quezon Killerwhale Team, Hugh Antonio Parto, who swept his six events in the 15-16 class, will lead the 8-man BEST squad, along with fellow national junior record holder Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh.
Parto, 15, from La Salle-Lipa, holds the PH Junior record in 100-m fly and 200-m (13-under).
At 15, Mojdeh, a Grade 10 student at Brent International School-Manila, is known as the ‘Water Beast’ for her dominant performances in both local and international junior competitions. The young multi-titled swimmer is a recipient of many awards, including the Junior Athlete of the Year from the Philippine Sportswriters Association.
They will be joined by head coach Virgilio De Luna and strength and conditioning coach Jerricson Llanos.