SEA Games 2025: Kayla Sanchez Powers Philippines to a Dominant 1-2 Finish in the Women’s 100m Freestyle
Kayla Sanchez delivered gold in the women’s 100m freestyle at the Southeast Asian Games on Friday, December 12, 2025, spearheading a Filipino one-two punch alongside teammate Heather White. Competing in the evening finals, Sanchez clocked a time of 54.82 seconds, just shy of the SEA Games record of 54.74 set by Ting Wen Quah in 2019.
Sanchez established a strong pace from the midway point, hitting the 50m mark in 26.19 seconds and maintaining her lead through the second length to clinch the title. This victory marked Sanchez’s second gold medal of the Games, adding to a productive run that already included a gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay and silvers in both the 200m freestyle and the 50m backstroke.
White secured the silver for the Philippines with a 55.36 finish, staying in contention through the opening half of the race before finishing strongly to stay ahead of the field. Singapore’s Ting Wen Quah, the existing SEA Games record holder, took bronze with 55.60 seconds, finishing with a powerful finish over the final 50 meters.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuy Hien, only 16 years old, impressed by finishing fourth in 56.06 seconds, signaling her ongoing ascent at the senior level. Indonesia’s Nadia Aisha Nurazmi claimed fifth with 56.50 seconds, followed by Vietnam’s Pham Thi Van in sixth. Singapore’s Ashley Yi Xuan Lim and Indonesia’s Serenna Karmelita Muslim completed the final two spots, finishing seventh and eighth respectively.
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