That is, if you ask Carlos Ildefonso, son of the late swim great Teofilo, on whose exploits gave the country the first and only Olympic bronze medal in swimming during the 1928 Amsterdam Games.

"Siguro naman ay makakahanap tayo ng makakapantay na o makakahigit pa sa tatay ko dahil hindi naman habang panahon ay siya lang ang mananalo ng Olympic medal sa swimming," the 67-year-old Carlos said yesterday in the weekly SCOOP at Kamayan UN Ave. branch.

At a time when the country has five entries in the swimming event of the Beijing Olympics, Carlos, a swimmer himself, said for swimmers to become successful and famous, they need to be focused and dedicated on what they really want.

"Nung araw, kung gusto mong sumikat, kelangan ka talaga magpractice at walang drugs dahil sa amin noon sarili mo lang, walang drugs," said Carlos, who received a posthumous lifetime achivement award for his father from SCOOP president Eddie Alinea.

The five swimmers who qualified for the quadrinnial meet slated in August are Miguel Molina, James Walsh, Ryan Arabejo, Christel Simms and Daniel Coakley, who incidentally is the great grandson of Teofilo.

Carlos, the youngest of six children, said he really cannot picture out the physical features of his father since he was born at a time his father died in the infamous Death March in Bataan during the Japanese occupation.

"But there’s one thing I really know about him. Mahilig daw siyang lumangoy sa ilog dun sa Piddig, Ilocos," said Carlos, adding that his father won a total of 144 medals, including the bronze medal in the 200m butterfly event of the Olympics.

Carlos said his father learned to swim when he joined the US Navy.

Carlos, who swam for the National University during his college days, said all of his brothers and sisters tried to follow the footsteps of their father or engaged in a water-related sports.

Their eldest, Porperio, played water polo, while Emiliano, Felipe, Norma and Herminia chose swimming.

"Lahat kami ay naging swimmer, kaya lang wala talaga sa amin ang nagtuloy-tuloy katulad ng father ko," Carlos said.

To honor and remember the feat his father made for the country 88 years ago, Carlos, who is in the country for a brief vacation from his Home Care in Balejo, California, received a R1-million incentive from the Philippine Sports Commission last May 6.