PHNOM PENH, Cambodia–For Filipino swimmers Xiandi Chua and Chloe Isleta, the goal was simple when they entered the women’s 200-m backstroke final of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games: grab the top two spots at all costs.
Speaking after her win at the Indoor Aquatics Center inside the Morodok Techo National Sports Complex here, Chua said she just did what she could during the final meters of the pool.
“I was so tired. My legs were so painful and I was just trying my best to get my hands into that wall as soon as possible,” said Chua, who clocked in two minutes and 13.20 seconds for the gold medal to dethrone last year’s champion Isleta.
“This swim was more of what I wanted to get back from the past SEA Games and it was a very devastating one for me. I didn’t get into the podium or broke my PB (personal best) so I’m glad this SEA Games is much better.”
Chua not only broke the Philippine record she set back at the Australian Championships last April at 2:14.96 minutes.
She also shattered the previous mark of 2:13.63 by Vietnamese Thi Ahn Vien of Vietnam back in the 2017 SEAG in Kuala Lumpur.
Prior to her gold medal performance, Chua also broke a new Philippine record at 2:17.02 minutes in the women’s 200m individual medley despite only getting fourth place.
Isleta, meanwhile, was not devastated by her runnerup finish.
“It’s honestly an amazing experience. I love that Xiandi’s able to be in the historic events of female athletes winning the gold for the Philippines,” Isleta said.
“In the ready room, we really said No. 1 and 2 is our goal. There wasn’t any option so we decided to push each other and even in practice, we pushed each other and supported each other.”
As of this writing, the Philippines has already collected one gold, four silver and seven bronze medals for fifth place in swimming.
