MICAELA Jasmine Mojdeh, 16, is one of the most promising swimmers in the country. She set new records and racked up 16 gold medals on top of the silvers and bronzes in the span of three years, dominating the country's national tournaments in multiple events.

Last year, the pride of Brent International School also competed in 14 events at the 8th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships in Peru, where she reached the semifinals of the girls' 100m butterfly event.

UAAP schools UP, UST, La Salle and Ateneo; US NCAA schools John Hopkins, Richmond and University of Denver; and even some European universities are trying to recruit her, according to Jasmine herself and her mom Joan.

She is that good. She even got the nickname "The Water Beast" for her excellence.

The beast in Jasmine isn't necessarily a monster, of course. The beast was born out of her enjoyment in swimming. That's how she started.

"I started swimming when I was 6 years old. Originally, I started at 5 and then I stopped, but I returned to swimming when my coach Jojo came back and told me to return. I just continued from there and got better. I really got enamored with swimming; I really had fun," Mojdeh, also a bemedalled Palarong Pambansa swimmer, shared in The Manila Times' "Courtside" episode.

"I just enjoyed myself, and I wasn't really thinking about [competitive] swimming. The next thing I knew was that I became really good, and so many people were trying to have a picture with me. I broke so many records. I was surprised."

Traveling abroad and competing against new foes are just some of the things that Jasmine finds really satisfying. But there's really no need for that in the Philippine pools, as she dominated last year's Philippine Swimming Institute's (PSI) Age Group Grand Prix National Championships.



There, she bagged a gold each in the women's 200m freestyle, 200m breaststroke, 200m medley, 400m medley and 100m breaststroke, among others.

"The part that I enjoyed the most is competing abroad, the travel, meeting new people, and the challenge of beating a new opponent so I have another goal to achieve. That's what I really enjoy."


Make no mistake, enjoyment doesn't mean resting on her laurels. Like many good athletes, Jasmine possessed a strong level of work ethic and character.

"She's very hard working. She listens well to her coaches. Whatever she achieved today, it was the fruit of her hard work, passion and enjoyment," said Joan.

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