Luke Gebbie, Remedy Rule qualify for Tokyo Olympics

MANILA – Swimmers Luke Gebbie and Remedy Rule will represent the Philippines in the Tokyo Olympics swimming competitions.

Gebbie and Rule got the nods from FINA (Federation Internationale De Natation) through the universality places quota.

Rule, a double silver medalist at the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019, got a bronze in the women’s 200m butterfly event in the United States last year.

On the other hand, the Australia-based Gebbie, also a bronze medalist in the 30th SEA Games, joined the men’s 50-meter freestyle in the Swimming Australia Olympic trials last July, where he timed 22.57 seconds to reset his national record of 22.62 seconds.

Unlike in the previous Olympiads where the universality qualifier will only compete in one event, Gebbie and Rule will play in two events each.

Gebbie qualified for the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle events, while Rule will play in the 200-meter freestyle and 200-meter butterfly races.

In the process, the Philippine team to the Tokyo Olympics has increased in number to 19 members.

Rule is scheduled to be the first to go as her first event, the 200-meter freestyle, will commence on July 26 with the heats.

If she makes the nod, she will play in the semifinals the following day with the medal race happening on July 28.

Rule will still compete on July 27 anyway as the heats for the 200-meter butterfly is scheduled for that day with the semifinals on the 28th and the final on the 29th.

On the other hand, Gebbie will first see action on July 27 too with the 100-meter freestyle heats.

The semifinals are scheduled for July 28 and the final is set on July 29.

Gebbie will bid for the “fastest swimmer in the world” honor as the heats for the 50-meter freestyle is set on July 30.

The semifinals are scheduled for July 31 and the final is set on Aug. 1.