Olympian and former national coach Pinky Brosas on Sunday announced that a bigger and wider grassroots development swimming program will be launched by the Congress of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (COPA) next year.
This came after Brosas confirmed that all cluster heads in 15 regional areas of COPA have already linked up with their respective local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Education (DepEd) as they intend to conduct not just tournaments but educational programs for the athletes, coaches and teachers.
“The inclusion of provincial teams and underpriviledged students from public schools is a testament of COPA’s serious campaign to open swimming to a much wider community. We firmly believe that swimming or any other sports is not exclusive to certain group or community. And right now, inclusivity is happening,” said Brosas referring to over 100 swimmers from public schools in Manila and teams from Leyte, Cagayan Valley, Cebu, Samar and Misamis Oriental who joined COPA’s Reunion Swim Challenge leg 3 which came to a close on Sunday at the Teofilo Ildefonso swimming pool in Rizal Memorial Sports Center.
Brosas joined COPA co-founder and tournament director Chito Rivera and technical head Richard Luna in awarding the medals to all the winners led by Nicola Queen Diamante and Paulene Beatrice Obebe who both grabbed their third gold medal in the event organized by Samahang Manlalangoy ng Pilipinas (SMP), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Speedo and MILO.
Diamante, 11, collected her third mint by winning the girls 11-yrs 50-m backstroke clocking 34.41 seconds, while Obebe claimed the 12-yrs class in timed of 36.82 seconds as they shared ‘most prolific swimmer’ award.
Anya dela Cruz, a 9-year old star of ASSC swim Club, collected two gold medals.
Other winners were Chesny Nagara in girls 8-under Class A 100-m free (1:32.50); Cheyanne Cruz (class B, 1:39.75); Agoss Grey (class C, 2:33.35); Girls 9 100-m free, Bianca Sarmiento (B, 1: 33.22); Calie Atienza (C, 1:43.80); Boys 10-yrs 100-m free, Kai Mangubat (B, 1:18.60); Rodmar Paredes (C, 1:38.30); Girls 11 50-m breast, Cathlene Hergamia (A, 41.60); Miel Legaspi (B, 45.30); Mayumi Fenol (C, 52.22).
Girls 12-yrs 50-m breast, Sinagtala Cuevas ( A, 41.50); Naomi Sy (B, 44.80); Boys 14 yrs 50-m breast, Jamiel Mundir (A, 34.96); Kirby Rocafort (B, 36.01); Tristan barrogo (C, 41.78); Boys 15yrs 50-breast, Sean Enero (A, 32.09); Luigi Crisostomo (B, 34.59); Francino Corpuz (C, 37.92); Boys 10yrs 50-m breast, Anod Jose Padre (A, 43.46); Draco Lopez (B, 49.40); Rave Decena (C, 1:04.66); Girls 15yrs 50-m back , Jan Sarmiento (A, 32.84); Hannah Salazar (B, 35.50). Rhevie Carmona (C, 39.69).