In a historic moment for Philippine swimming, Filipino-British athletes Heather White and Jamesray Ajido clinched bronze medals at the 11th Asian Age-Group Swimming Championships held at the New Clark City on Tuesday night. Their remarkable performances mark a breakthrough for the country in the prestigious swimming competition.

Sixteen-year-old Heather White, a New Zealand-born student currently based in Vietnam, made waves as she secured bronze in the girls’ 100-meter butterfly event with an impressive time of 1 minute and 3.09 seconds. White’s stellar performance earned her a spot on the podium alongside Hong Kong, China’s Yeung Hoi Ching, who claimed gold with a new meet record of 1:00.50, and her compatriot Mok Sze Ki, who took silver with a time of 1:02.73.

For White, this achievement holds significant importance, marking one of her best performances to date. Reflecting on her success, White expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete on the Asian stage and emphasized the competitive nature of the event compared to previous competitions she had participated in.

Following White’s impressive feat, fifteen-year-old Jamesray Ajido continued the medal haul by securing bronze in the boys’ 50m freestyle event with a time of 24.34 seconds. Ajido’s remarkable performance showcased his talent and determination on the international stage, earning him a place among the top swimmers in Asia.

Ajido, a standout athlete from La Salle-Greenhills and a double-gold medalist in NCAA Season 99, demonstrated his potential for future success by posting the fastest time in the morning heats of the 100m butterfly event. Meanwhile, White advanced to the finals of the 200m freestyle event after clocking the second-fastest time in the heats.