Filipino Olympian Kayla Sanchez Receives 1.2 Million Pesos for SEA Games Medal Haul

Olympian Kayla Sanchez will obtain a 1.2 million Philippine peso (roughly $20,000 USD) bonus for her efficiency on the latest Southeast Asian Games.

Sanchez, who was born in Singapore to Filipino dad and mom and later emigrated to Canada, started formally symbolize the Philippines in late 2023. She had beforehand represented Canada at a number of worldwide competitions, together with the 2017 World Junior Championships, 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2019 World Championships, 2020 Olympic Games, 2021 World Championships, and 2022 World Championships.

She received two Olympic medals on the Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021: silver within the 400 free relay and bronze on the 400 medley relay.

At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the place she set a Philippines Record within the prelims of the 100 free (53.67) to qualify for the semi-finals.

The 2025 Southeast Asian Games have been her greatest worldwide medals since representing the Philippines. There, she received three gold medals and 5 silver medals, breaking three Philippines National Records within the course of. The nation’s win within the 400 free relay, together with Heather White, Chloe Isleta, and Xiandi Chua, marked the nation’s first ever SEA Games gold medal in a swimming relay.

The SEA Games are a significant regional competitors the place the nations of Southeast Asia battle for regional sporting dominance, which is seen as an extension of political comfortable energy.

Sanchez’s prize cash beneath the Republic Act 10699, athletes are awarded vital prizes for fulfillment in worldwide sporting competitions (together with 10 million, round $170,000 USD, Philippines pesos for an Olympic gold medal). The Philippines has 18 Olympic medals in its historical past, together with solely 3 gold medals.

At the SEA Games, particular person gold medals every earn P300,000 (round $5,100 USD), whereas the profitable relay swimmers share P75,000 (round $1,275 USD) as a result of there have been lower than 5 occasions.

She additionally receives P175,000 (Around $2,550 USD) for every particular person silver, and shares extra prize cash for the silver medal profitable relay she was a part of.

In addition, the act additionally affords nationwide crew athletes and coaches reductions on journey and transportation providers, leisure providers like theatres, cinemas, live shows, and carnivals, free medical and dental care, insurance coverage, social safety advantages, and precedence placement in nationwide job and housing placement packages.

While Sanchez is again dwelling and coaching in Canada with the UBC Thunderbirds, her 1.2 million peso haul is roughly 3.5 occasions the median annual family revenue within the Philippines.

The Philippines received 50 gold medals on the 2025 SEA Games throughout all sports activities, which was Sixth-most amongst 11 taking part nations. In swimming, they received 3 gold medals and 14 complete medals, which positioned them 4th within the remaining desk.