By Edwin Rollon
GEN. SANTOS CITY — A total of 63 young swimmers shattered 36 meet records in the just-concluded swimming competition in the 2025 Batang Pinoy National Finals, marking the most productive edition in the history of the age-group swimming competition.
“If not for the disqualification of Christian Isaiah Lagnason in the boys’ 12–13 200m butterfly (false start), that number would have reached 37,” said Technical Director Richard Luna, an international swimming official and head of the technical committee of Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI).
Luna noted that the level of competition has soared, with several events seeing all medalists surpassing existing records.
“May mga events — 12 to be exact — na lahat ng podium finishers broke the old mark,” he said.
Despite his setback, hometown hero Lagnason still emerged as one of the stars of the meet, bagging three gold medals — all in record-breaking fashion.
Most of the new record holders are familiar names from the PAI nationwide age-group circuit, including Sophia Rose Garra, Patricia Pastor, Arianne Lim, Nicola Queen Diamante, and Liv Abigail Florendo.
The 13-year-old Garra, a protégé of Olympian Jenny Guerrero from Malabon, delivered standout performances with three new marks in the Girls 12–13 50m backstroke: 30.71 (old record 33.16); 100m backstroke: 1:06.60 (old record 1:08.77); 200m backstroke: 2:25.54 (old record 2:30.00)
Other notable swims came from Pastor, a UST standout representing Ilustre East, who topped the girls 16–17 50m butterfly in 28.27 (old record 29.27); Lim, who reset the girls 12–13 50m back mark at 32.56 (old 33.16); Diamante, who ruled the girls 14–15 50m back at 31.35 (old 32.35); and Florendo, who established a record in the girls 14–15 200m back at 2:32.75 (old 2:34.07).
PAI Secretary General and swimming legend Eric Buhain credited the unprecedented success to the federation’s strengthened grassroots development program and the unwavering support of the regional directors.
“Na-challenge talaga ang mga swimmers. Pasalamatan natin ang mga Regional Directors who supported this move to elevate the standards of Philippine Aquatics,” said Buhain.
“Konting push pa and we’ll be right where we should be — competing not just in Southeast Asia but across Asia. In just two years, we’ve seen remarkable improvement. Imagine what another two years can bring!” he added.
“This is the spirit of true grassroots development — the very foundation of the PSC’s vision: From Grassroots to Gold!” Buhain concluded.
For adiitonal information about the meet record visit https://batangpinoy.psc.gov.ph/.
