Kayla Sanchez’s 3rd SEA Games gold is perfect birthday gift for dad

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Competing for the fourth straight day in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, swimmer Kayla Sanchez remains a steady force for the Philippines, which retains the crown in the women's 100m backstroke

CHONBURI, Thailand – Kayla Sanchez did not have to look far for extra motivation as she picked up her third gold medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games.

Sanchez gifted her father Noel the perfect present on his birthday following her triumph in the women’s 100m backstroke final at the SAT Swimming Pool in Bangkok on Saturday, December 13.

Competing for the fourth straight day, the 24-year-old remained a steady force as she recorded 1:02.35, allowing the Philippines to retain the crown in the event after Teia Salvino won in the 2023 Cambodia edition with a SEA Games record time of 1:01.64.

Thailand’s Mia Millar finished behind Sanchez for the silver with 1:02.52, while Indonesia’s Flairene Candrea bagged bronze with 1:02.60.

“I’m speechless. It’s been a long competition. I still have four more events to go so I’m just taking it day by day and I knew I had to go out fast, just keep it together and stay calm in the last 50,” said Sanchez. “It’s also my dad’s birthday today so I wanted to win this medal for him. I wanted to win gold for the Philippines.” 

“My whole family is here and that means so much to me that we get to share this experience together.” 

After a smashing SEA Games debut that saw her anchor the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay to the crown on Wednesday, December 10, Sanchez settled for a pair of silvers in the women’s 50m backstroke and 200m freestyle the following day.

Falling short of the title in those events lit a fire under Sanchez, who has won gold medals in back-to-back days as she captured the top prize in the women’s 100m freestyle on Friday, December 12.

“I was really heartbroken, I felt like I let myself down, I let the country down, and the only thing I can do as an athlete is to focus on the next event. I’m so motivated to win more golds,” said Sanchez.

With five medals, Sanchez holds the distinction of being the most bemedalled Filipino athlete in this SEA Games. She is expected to produce more in the last two days of the swimming competition. – Rappler.com