Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 7) – The Philippines suffered a setback in its quest for gold in swimming in the 31st Southeast Asian Games.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino confirmed on Saturday that Tokyo Olympian Luke Gebbie failed his COVID-19 test upon landing in Hanoi, Vietnam.
“Too bad he tested positive,” said Tolentino. “That’s one less medal, a potential gold at that, in our campaign.”
Gebbie is the country’s best hope for a gold in the Vietnam SEA Games male swimming competition for being the only Filipino swimmer who competed in last year’s Tokyo Olympics and in the absence of 2019 SEA Games gold medalist James Deiparine.
The Filipino Australian tanker holds the Philippine record in the 100-meter freestyle, 50-meter freestyle, and 50-meter butterfly events.
Tolentino added that three Filipino kickboxers initially tested positive for COVID-19, but they were already cleared after a retest.
The Philippine swimming team in Hanoi is down to 15 swimmers with two-time Olympian Jasmine Alkhaldi and 2019 SEA Games silver medalists Chloe Isleta, Xiandi Chua, Desirae Mangaoang, and Jean-Pierre Khouzam leading the campaign for the May 14-19 tournament.
The Filipino swimmers clinched a total of one gold, six silvers, and nine bronzes in the last staging of the biennial sports event held at New Clark City Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.
