Another Filipino-American standout could make the cut in the national swimming team that is being formed for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Seventeen-year-old Jaden Christian Olson surpassed a Philippine record and equaled another last Friday in the United States.
Olson eclipsed Jerald Jacinto’s 50-meter backstroke mark in the junior division and matched Ryan Papa’s men’s 100m backstroke national record when he saw action in the National Club Swimming Association Summer Swimming Championships in Indianapolis.
According to the event’s official website, he clocked 56.48 seconds for the silver which equaled the 22-year mark of Papa in the 19th SEA Games in Jakarta.
In the male 50m backstroke event, he topped the morning preliminaries in 26.45 seconds, before Olson took the gold medal after clocking a new Philippine national best time of 26 seconds.
A member of the Chicago Wolfpack Aquatic Club, Olson went past Jacinto’s 26.32 second record which was submitted during the 50th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships.
Olson and Jacinto will represent Philippines in the 7th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Budapest from August 20 to 25.
They are among the top contenders for the national team for the SEA Games.
Last week, Olson also clocked 24.55 in the 50-m freestyle of the NCSA Summer Championships.