Passages: Amman Jalmaani, Three-Time Olympian from the Philippines, 72

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Photo Courtesy: Taylor Brien

Passages: Amman Jalmaani, Three-Time Olympian from the Philippines, 72

Amman Jalmaani, a three-time Olympian representing the Philippines, died on Nov. 23. He was 72 years old.

A breaststroke specialist, Jalmaani made his Olympic debut just before his 16th birthday at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. He would earn a second swim at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City and swam in Munich in 1972.

Jalmaani finished sixth in his prelims heat of the 200 breaststroke at the Tokyo Olympics, failing to qualify for the semifinals. Four years later, his time in 100 breast (added to the Games for the first time) of 1 minute, 10.6 seconds was third in the fourth of six prelims heats. He finished sixth in his semifinal, one of three, unable to make the eight-man final.

Jalmaani also swam the 200 breast and on the Philippine 400 free and 400 medley relays in Mexico City. He didn’t escape prelims in either the 100 breast or 200 breast in Munich to go with a medley relay swim.

Jalmaani’s greatest success came in the Asian Games. He won bronze in the 100 breast and 400 medley relay at the 1966 event in Bangkok. In 1970, he swept silver in the two men’s breaststroke events (behind Japan’s Nobutaka Taguchi) and in the medley relay. He continued on to the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran, where he helped the Philippines to medley relay bronze.

The 1974 Asian Games were Jalmaani’s final major event. According to an obituary from The Rappler, he retired and joined the Philippines armed forced. A native of Jolo, he lived in Zamboanga City at the time of his depth.

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