LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – Filipino-American Nicole Oliva capped her memorable debut in the Philswim National Swimming Championships on Sunday, collecting two more gold medals in completing a perfect 7-for-7 at the Trace College pool here.
Underscoring her status as a swimmer to watch in the 29th Malaysia Southeast Asian Games, Oliva ruled the women’s 50-meter backstroke in 30.89 seconds before winding up her campaign in handily annexing the 100-meter freestyle crown in 58.08 seconds.
A rising star in the prestigious Santa Clara Swim Club in California, the Grade 10 St. Francis Student earlier won the 200, 400 and 800-meter freestyle and 100 and 200-meter backstroke mints in the three-day meet supported by Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission.
“This was a good experience for me because I was able to adjust to the local conditions, which I think will be the same in Malaysia,” said Oliva of her experience in the meet organized by the Philippine Swimming Inc. and backed by Arena, Wilcon Depot, COL Finance and Dunn Edwards Paints, Philippians 4:13, Nagaraya, Veloci and Nutritive Snack Food Corp.
Already eyed in the US as a potential Team USA member, she thanked PSI secretary general Lani Velasco for wooing her convincingly in suiting up for the home country of her parents, Mark and Cynthia.