AGE: 17 years old
SPORT: Women’s 50m and 100m freestyle
OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE: First-time Olympian
MEDALS: RP record-holder, women’s 50m and 100m 1st RP lady to compete in both freestyle events in 20 years
THE future of Philippine swimming is getting her baptism of fire on the world’s biggest stage.
And Christel Simms, who will represent the country for the first time in an international tournament, isn’t fazed.
“I truly feel honored,” the Hawaii-born teenager said. “As a young athlete, competing against the best of the world, the Olympics is just like a dream. Now, it’s already here for me to conquer.”
The country hasn’t seen a woman swimmer in multiple Olympiads since Akiko Thomson, a 3-time Olympian, hung up her swim cap in 1996.
That could end with Simms, a half-Filipina discovered by the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association in one of the federation’s intensive talent scouting abroad.
Simms’ resume speaks loudly for itself. Before being eyed by Philippine swim officials, she was already in the US national junior swimming team that competed in two editions of the Junior Pan-Pacific Games.
In the 2007 National US Junior Nationals in Indianapolis, Simms surpassed the Olympic standard time by clocking 57.17 seconds in the 100m freestyle. In the 2008 Stanford Grand Prix, she registered 26.31 seconds in the 50m freestyle.
Both performances gave Simms slots in the two events at the Olympics. And judging by existing records, Simms’ times are the new Philippine marks, surpassing, yes, Thomson’s numbers in the 50m (set in 1989) and the 100m (set in 1992).
“Christel has a bright future ahead,” PASA president Mark Joseph, also former national coach to Thomson, said. “She’s still young and could work on the rough edges of her game. She’s a project for the 2012 Olympics.”
Joseph only has praises for Simms’ talent level—and probably her mother’s disposition.
Reports had it that USA Swimming was dogged determined to get Simms on its national pool but Simms’ mother Jocelyn, who was raised in Cavite province, had the final say. The Philippine would win out.
Simms’ first time to wear the Sun and Stars was in the International Swimming Federation World Championship last April in Manchester, England.
“It was a sudden twist of fate,” Simms said. “I have always been dreaming to represent the Philippines and now, this chance has arrived. I couldn’t be any happier.”
“Though my friends and classmates were swimming for the US, I am proud to swim for my own country,” she added.
Simms has trained intensively under long-time coach Scott Sherwood who has been teaching Simms since she was nine. If things work out the way she hopes, Simms won’t be the only one feeling proud about being a Filipino. The country she has begun to embrace will learn to love her back as well.
“I always love where I came from,” Simms gushed.
“I will be going to the Olympics not as a Hawaiian, but as a Filipina who wants to make my home country proud. My goal is to swim as fast as I could and go out there to enjoy this once-in-a lifetime Olympic experience.”
If things work out better, the once-in-a-lifetime feeling in the Beijing Games may have a repeat in London.
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