Olympian Kayla Sanchez is set to receive Php 1.2 million in incentives after a dominant SEA Games 2025 run where she won three gold medals and five silver medals.
Kayla Sanchez is about to "get the bread."
The 24-year-old swimmer delivered the best campaign by a Filipino athlete at the SEA Games 2025 in Thailand, stacking medals with relentless consistency and walking away with a potential Php 1.2 million in incentives.
By the time she stepped out of the pool for the final time, Sanchez had collected eight medals across six events—three golds and five silvers—turning every race into a statement and every podium finish into proof of her elite status.
Under Republic Act 10699, also known as the National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act, athletes receive Php 300,000 for each SEA Games gold medal and Php 150,000 for silver.
Team-event prizes are divided among members if there are fewer than five.
Signed into law in November 2015, the act aims to “promote excellence in sports by looking after the welfare of national athletes and coaches competing for the country and by providing benefits and incentives for national athletes and other athletes who win in international sports competitions and bring honor and recognition to the country.”
The Breakdown
Thailand proved the perfect stage for Sanchez’s dominance as she finally made her SEA Games debut for Team Philippines.
She ruled the 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle, securing two individual gold medals and instantly banking Php 600,000.
[ALSO READ: 'Golden girl' Kayla Sanchez swims way to another SEA Games 2025 victory in 100m backstroke]
Sanchez then powered the Philippines to victory in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay alongside Xiandi Chua, Chloe Isleta, and Heather White, adding another gold—and Php 75,000—to her growing haul.
[ALSO READ: Kayla Sanchez becomes first PH double gold winner in SEA Games 2025 after 100m freestyle]
Even when gold slipped just out of reach, Sanchez remained a fixture on the podium.
She picked up silver in three individual events—the 200m freestyle, 50m backstroke, and 50m freestyle—earning another Php 450,000.
Lastly, the Paris 2024 Olympian nabbed silver in the 4x200m freestyle and 4x100 medley relay, contributing an additional Php 75,000 and bringing her total haul to a whopping Php 1.2 million.
[ALSO READ: Kayla Sanchez nabs two silvers in SEAG swimming: 'I'm excited to keep going']
Total Domination
Sanchez’s achievement marks the most gold medals won by a Filipino swimmer at the SEA Games since Akiko Thomson captured three in the 1989 Kuala Lumpur edition.
Gold or silver, solo or relay, every swim for Sanchez in these SEA Games marked the renewed surge of Philippine swimming at the biennial event.
And while the cash incentive is significant, the real reward is clear: Kayla Sanchez has firmly established herself as the Philippines’ standard-bearer in the pool.
—
Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.