A BIGGER national grassroot swimming program to be organized by the Congress of Philippine Aquatics Inc. (COPA) is expected next year, according to Olympian and former national coach Pinky Brosas.
Brosas said cluster heads of the 15 regional units of the COPA have mustered their partnership with their respective local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to conduct not only tournaments but educational programs for athletes, coaches and teachers.
“The inclusion of provincial teams and underprivileged students from public schools is a testament of COPA’s serious campaign to open swimming to a much wider community,” Brosas said. “We firmly believe that swimming or any other sport is not exclusive to certain groups or communities and right now, inclusivity is happening.”
Brosas said more than a hundred swimmers from public schools in Manila, Leyte, Cagayan Valley, Cebu, Samar and Misamis Oriental joined the COPA’s Reunion Swim Challenge Leg 3 that ended Sunday at the Teofilo Ildefonso Swimming Pool inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
“Swimmers come and go, but coaches and trainors, they’re always there, therefore we need to educate them on how to properly conduct the sport, especially in the approach to young swimmners,” said Brosas, who swam in two Olympics—Munich (1972) and Montreal (1976).
Brosas joined COPA co-founder and tournament director Chito Rivera and technical head Richard Luna in awarding the medals to the winners headed by Nicola Queen Diamante and Paulene Beatrice Obebe, who each grabbed their third gold medal in the event organized by Samahang Manlalangoy ng Pilipinas and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Speedo and Milo.
The 11-year-old Diamante collected her third gold medal in the girls 11 year old 50-meter backstroke with a clocking of 34.41 seconds, while Obebe claimed the 12 years old in 36.82 seconds. They shared the Most Prolific Swimmer award.
On Saturday, Diamante, the pride of RSS Dolphins Swim Club, shone in A 50-meter butterfly (34.72) and 50-meter freestyle (31.69), while Obebe won the 50-meter freestyle (29.97) and 50-meter butterfly (31.22).
“We’re very happy in the team, especially our coach, Anthony Reyes,” said Diamante, who amassed 11 gold medals from two previous COPA races.
Anya de la Cruz, a nine-year old protegee out of the ASSC swim Club, topped the 50-meter back (43.03) and 100-meter freestyle (1:21.10).
The other girls winners were Chesny Nagara (Class A 100-m free, 1:32.50), Cheyanne Cruz (B, 1:39.75) and Agoss Grey (C, 2:33.35) in 8-under; Bianca Sarmiento (B, 1: 33.22) and Calie Atienza (C, 1:43.80) in the 9-under 100-meter freestyle; Cathlene Hergamia (A, 41.60), Miel Legaspi (B, 45.30) and Mayumi Fenol (C, 52.22) in 11-under 50-meter breastroke; Jan Sarmiento (A, 32.84), Hannah Salazar (B, 35.50) and Rhevie Carmona (C, 39.69) in 15-under 50-meter backstroke; and Sinagtala Cuevas (A, 41.50) and Naomi Sy (B, 44.80) in 12-under 50-meter breastroke.
The boys champions were Kai Mangubat (B, 1:18.60) and Rodmar Paredes (C, 1:38.30) in 10-under 100-meter freestyle; Jamiel Mundir (A, 34.96), Kirby Rocafort (B, 36.01) and Tristan barrogo (C, 41.78) in 14-under 50-meter breastroke; Sean Enero (A, 32.09), Luigi Crisostomo (B, 34.59) and Francino Corpuz (C, 37.92) in 15-under 50-meter breastroke; and Anod Jose Padre (A, 43.46), Draco Lopez (B, 49.40) and Rave Decena (C, 1:04.66) in 10-under 50-meter breastroke.