Molina faces tough order in Olympics

By Julius Manicad

07/18/2008

Every Olympic is a tall order for the Philippine team, and this year’s summer edition in Beijing is no different, that even the country’s brightest hope for first gold in Olympics — swimmer Miguel Molina — is expected to have a bumpy ride.

Swimming president Mark Joseph yesterday admitted that Molina indeed faces gargantuan task, not similar to the competition in the Southeast Asian Games, which he ruled with iron hand.

Molina is entered in three events — 200-meter breastroke, 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley — and has to surpass the semifinals. And should he reach the Round of Eight, Molina will be meeting the likes of United States’ Michael Phelps, a six-time Olympic gold medalist who shattered four world records in the previous Olympics.

Joseph also admitted that his prized ward still has some serious works to do to at least have a chance of barging into the Round of 16. Even Molina’s previous clockings in the three events are not that impressive. He clocks 2:03.22 in the 200m individual medley, 1:52.26 in the 200m freestyle and 2:16.62 in the 200m breaststroke, all of which are way off the prevailing Olympic mark.

“This year’s Olympics is probably one of the toughest meets in recent memory,” Joseph said. “So tough that even the world record holders are still unsure of making it to the Round of Eight.”

Unlike the previous Summer Games, the time trial for this year will be held in the evening and the finals will be in the morning to accommodate the Western media who will be covering the games.

And Joseph likes this kind of setup.

“Since we have the same time zone as the Chinese, it will be favorable for our swimmers,” he said. “They are at their best in the early evening so playing in the morning for the finals will be more of a reward for a job well done the previous night.”

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