CAGAYAN de Oro City — A 17-year-old swimmer from Zamboanga City brought home six medals from the Philippine Aquatics Short Course National Championships 2026, adding another milestone to her growing swimming career while balancing senior high school studies.

Claeson Therese R. Alvarez, a Grade 12 student at Claret School of Zamboanga City, won four gold medals, one silver and one bronze at the Oct. 2–4 competition at the New Clark City Aquatics Center in Capas, Tarlac.

She took gold in the 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter butterfly, 200-meter backstroke and 100-meter backstroke. She also earned silver in the 50-meter backstroke and bronze in the 200-meter freestyle.

The national medal haul followed another strong performance in Cebu City, where Alvarez swept all nine events she entered in the Philippine Aquatics Inc. ABC Short Course Series Legs 2 and 3 on Sept. 19–20. Her performance earned her the Most Outstanding Swimmer award.

Her nine victories covered the 50-, 200-, 400- and 1,500-meter freestyle; 100- and 200-meter backstroke; 50- and 100-meter butterfly; and 400-meter individual medley.

Competing across multiple events in consecutive meets tested her endurance, recovery and ability to manage her energy between races.

“Preparing for different events requires a lot of discipline and consistency,” Alvarez said, describing how she works on endurance, speed and technique to compete across different swimming strokes and distances.

She said limited recovery time between heats and finals made proper nutrition, hydration and rest essential.

“It was definitely exhausting,” Alvarez said. “Mentally, I focused on one race at a time.”

Balancing school and competition

Beyond training and competition, Alvarez also faces the demands of senior high school, with morning and evening swimming sessions competing for time with her academic responsibilities.

“Balancing academics and swimming as a Grade 12 student is definitely challenging,” she said. “There are days when I feel exhausted, but I remind myself of the goals I’m working toward.”

For Alvarez, the medals represent more than victories in the pool.

“Receiving the award means a lot to me because it represents not just the medals, but also the sacrifices, discipline, and hard work behind every race,” she said.

As she prepares for the next stage of her life, Alvarez hopes to continue improving as a swimmer while preparing for opportunities beyond competitive sports.