Olympian, Philippine swimming coach Pinky Brosas dies

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine swimming great Carlos “Pinky” Brosas, who enjoyed a storied career as a national team swimmer and coach spanning over five decades, died on Thursday, October 3.

He was 68 years old.

Then just 14 years old, Brosas won silver in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay of the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand, together with Dae Imlani, Kemalpasa Umih, and Jairulla Jaitulla.

He represented the country in the Olympics two years after, seeing action in five events in the 1972 Games in Munich, Germany.

Turning to coaching, Brosas mentored the likes of Eric Buhain, Akiko Thomson, Miguel Molina, and Jessie Lacuna as head coach in the 1988 Seoul, 2008 Beijing, and 2012 London Olympics.

According to the Philippine Aquatics Inc., Brosas produced five Filipino Olympians and is credited with at least 37 Philippine Open records.

“Coach Pinky spent his life generously sharing from his wealth of experience and leaves a vacuum few can fill,” Philippine Aquatics wrote on Facebook.

“While we mourn his death, we give thanks for the legacy Coach Pinky leaves behind in Philippine sports.”

National team mainstay and Philippine record holder Xiandi Chua paid tribute to Brosas, whom she also considered a friend and a father figure.

“He was such a selfless person, always putting his swimmers first before himself,” Chua wrote on Facebook.

“Coach Pinky, thank you for going above and beyond for me. Having you take me under your wing has been absolutely the best 10 years of my life.” – Rappler.com