Making waves for inclusivity in swimming

By Richard C. Vargas

Promoting inclusivity in and out of the pool has long been top of mind for the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) since the conceptualization of New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac in 2012.

Fast forward to today, that vision is becoming a reality. Just a couple of months ago, New Clark City Aquatics Center served as a venue for both grassroots and professional swimming clubs and organizations to become part of the Philippine national aquatics team competing for the 32 nd South East Asian Games (SEA Games) in Cambodia. This was made possible by the newly created Stabilization Committee tasked by the World Aquatics (formerly FINA) to oversee swimming in the Philippines.

From February 16 to 20, almost 200 Filipino tankers from across the country and the globe vied to meet the qualifying entry times in 34 different swimming events, which was supervised by World Aquatics technical director Kazumi Eguchi.

Without boundaries

Stressing the focus on swimming as a competitive sport, Stabilization Committee member and BCDA Senior Vice President for Corporate Services Arrey A. Perez envisioned Philippine competitive swimming that “welcomes everyone without any boundaries.”

“We focus on the swimmers. We focus on the coaches, and we focus on all the people that are dedicating their time, (and) their resources to make sure that we have highly competitive and fair swimming competitions,” BCDA SVP Perez added.

Twenty-one-year old Ms. Xiandi Chua was among the athletes who have qualified early in the four-day meet, hitting the qualifying time for the 200 long course meter backstroke for women. Chua won the Philippines’ first swimming gold in the 32nd SEA Games after touching the wall in two minutes and 13.20 seconds in the women’s 200-meter backstroke category.

Meanwhile, California-based athlete Jarod Hatch qualified for the 50-meter butterfly for men. He made a new record by surpassing the 38-month time of Luke Gabbie at 24.27 seconds in the same swimming event. Hatch hit the clock at 23.96 seconds, claiming a spot to participate in the 32nd SEA Games. A few months later, Hatch collected a bronze in the men’s 50m butterfly in 23.89 seconds during the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, resetting his own Philippine record of 24.27 seconds achieved during the national swim tryouts in New Clark City.

All these achievements prove that by welcoming everyone without boundaries, New Clark City is, indeed, a home of champions.