BY WAYLON GALVEZ
Despite the difficulties and challenges following the implementation of lockdowns here and abroad due to coronavirus pandemic, members of the swimming national team continue to find ways to stay in shape.
Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) President Lani Velasco said Thursday that the federation is closely monitoring the safety and physical conditions of their 16 swimmers on training – some of them are based in the United States.
“Since most of the world’s pools are currently closed due to the lockdown, our swimmers are given ‘dry land’ workouts by their coaches so that they could stay fit during quarantine,” said Velasco.
“Affected lahat ng swimmers, so land training silang lahat ngayon. Merong mga workout na binibigay ang mga local coaches natin sa mga athletes, every day meron bagong pinagagawa sa kanila na mga sets.”
The swimming association chief said that Fil-foreign athletes are also being monitored, including 30th Southeast Asian Games gold medalist James Deiparine, Luke Gebbie, Remedy Rule, Jon Cook, Jarod Hatch, Nicole Oliva and Miranda Renner, and locals Rae Mangaong and Jaden Olsen, who are both in the US.
Velasco said some athletes have been ‘creative’ in their training programs.
“I’ve been in touch with most of them, and some of our swimmers are getting creative with their workouts. Some use ladder for pull-ups, while some use cements (sacks) and bricks (as weights),” said Velasco.
“Ang nakakatuwa is even the food they eat, they’ll send it to me,” added Velasco, elected as PSI president back in February 2018.
For her part, Velasco has been busy too doing things to help those who are in need, particularly the frontliners in the fight against the deadly disease that has affected and claimed thousands of lives already.
After donating mattresses,Velasco mentioned that 5,000 N95 facemasks would be donated to hospitals in Manila and in Bacolod City.
Aside from that, Velasco has been personally producing ‘recycled’ washable facemasks from eco-bags she got from items she purchased over the years – now benefitting various health workers.
“We’ve donated (financial assistance) to five fundraising organizers, and if I recall it’s for PPE, and protective eyewear for doctors. Whatever I give it’s from me and my whole family – that includes PSI,” she said.
“But you know, it’s more amazing and a great feeling when you make the masks yourself… labor of love. More than just donating money, during times like these, it’s important to help and share.”
“I’ve been donating the washable masks that I’ve been making since last week to several hospitals here in Manila and in Bacolod, and I’ve been giving it to my doctor friends and they give it directly to the hospitals,” Velasco added.