PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Chloe Isleta is already mapping out her plans after failing to win a gold medal in the swimming competition of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
Isleta said she will be flying back to the United States to see action in the 2023 TYR Pro Swim Series-Mission Viejo from 17 to 20 May at the Marguerite Aquatics Center, Mission Viejo, California.
She will be leaving the Cambodian capital on Saturday and will arrive in California on her 25th birthday on Sunday.
“I have been warming up for that meet. I have already given my all in this pool,” Isleta said, adding that she is trying new techniques and strategies to boost her game.
“I am happy and I am making sure that I am getting some rest in the competition because I am trying new things in my races. New techniques and strategies and I want to apply it on my next meet as well.”
After a breakthrough victory in the women’s 200-meter backstroke in Hanoi last year, the gold medal had been very elusive to Isleta.
In this year’s biennial meet, she clocked two minutes and 16.19 seconds to settle for the silver medal in the 200-meter backstroke.
Then, she clinched the bronze medal together with Xiandi Chua, Teia Salvino and two-time Olympian Jasmine Alkhaldi in the women’s 4×200-meter freestyle after clocking 8:19.64.
Isleta said there’s a lot of things to work on in her pet events – the 100-meter and 200-meter backstroke – as she braces for major international competitions like the World Aquatics Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Of course, I want to get a new time in my 200-meter back, 100-meter back and maybe something different like the 200-meter freestyle because I got the best time there in the relay, so let’s see,” Isleta said.
“Hopefully, the goal is to go to the Worlds and any other big competition so we’ll see. I’m taking it day by day.”
“That’s (Paris Olympics) the bigger picture but I want to be able to take those baby steps to be able to reach that goal. I know that if you have a big goal, you don’t just want to jump. You have to get those steps to get there.”
