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What dad told Kayla Richardson when PH sprint queen won '15 SEA Games gold

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Dominic Menor, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/life/08/16/richardsons-081617.jpg"/><figcaption>Jeff Richardson, flanked by SEA Games sprinters Kayla (left) and Kyla, says her twin daughters are &quot;happy to be a part of something bigger than themselves.&quot; Dominic Menor, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>Draping a flag around one&#x27;s body at the moment of victory is the ultimate celebration of national pride.But when Kayla Richardson won the 100 meters in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore, she appeared to be overwhelmed by what she had achieved that it took her father, Jeff, to remind her to properly mark her feat.&quot;It was unexpected. I thought she would do well, maybe medal but I didn&#x27;t know she would win. It was really cool to watch,&quot; Jeff told ABS-CBN News during the Philippine national track and field&#x27;s training camp at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday.&quot;She was running around and I told her, &#x27;Go get a flag.&#x27; And then somebody went up to her and gave her a Philippine jacket. I said, &#x27;No, somebody&#x27;s gotta flag.&#x27; &quot;Jeff will again accompany twin 19-year-old daughters Kayla and Kyla to the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur this week, where it is Kyla, not Kayla, who will try to defend the 100s gold.The sisters got into sprint running when as 8-year-old, elementary-school girls they would routinely outrace boys. They can credit their athletic prowess to winning the genetic lottery — Jeff was a minor-league baseball player and his wife, Amy, who was raised in Zamboanga, was an active runner.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/16/17/10-pinoy-athletes-to-watch-out-for-in-the-2017-sea-games">READ: 10 Pinoy athletes to watch out for in the 2017 SEA Games</a></li></ul>As her daughters grew up, Jeff started sending out queries to Philippine sports organizations in 2012 looking for a chance to get the girls playing on the Philippine team. &quot;They&#x27;re happy to be a part of something that&#x27;s bigger than themselves,&quot; Jeff said.In 2015, besides the gold in the 100s, Kayla won silver in the 200 meters. This year, Kayla will focus on the 200s, while Kyla will compete in the 100 meters. Both are part of the 4 x 100-meter relay.&quot;I think that they&#x27;re surprisingly in good shape even though it&#x27;s late in the season and I think they&#x27;ve gotten stronger while competing at (University of Southern California),&quot; Jeff said.&quot;God willing they&#x27;ll be healthy (and) we&#x27;ll have success.&quot;The sisters are mildly surprised when the issue of sibling rivalry is brought up. They promise no such thing exists between them.Kayla said having a sister who competes with her is &quot;a blessing,&quot; adding: &quot;She&#x27;s my built-in best friend.&quot;Kyla agreed — running against Kayla is about making each other better. &quot;It&#x27;s always friendly competition,&quot; she said.Jeff, 44, has only one wish for his children — that they give their best while they&#x27;re in their primes so they don&#x27;t have any regret later in their lives.&quot;I just advise them to maximize their talent while they&#x27;re young because when you get my age, man, if you can go backwards I would&#x27;ve worked harder and focused,&quot; he said.&quot;Because once you&#x27;re done you&#x27;re done. You can do whatever you want after that. And I think they understand that.&quot;(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>)

Fil-Am twin sisters Kayla and Kyla Richardson says no sibling rivalry exists between them, with Kayla calling her sister "a blessing" and "her best friend."

Fil-Am twin sisters Kayla and Kyla Richardson says no sibling rivalry exists between them, with Kayla calling her sister "a blessing" and "her best friend."

What dad told Kayla Richardson when PH sprint queen won '15 SEA Games gold

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What dad told Kayla Richardson when PH sprint queen won '15 SEA Games gold

Dominic Menor,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 16, 2017 08:35 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 16, 2017 10:35 PM PHT

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SEA Games

Kayla Richardson

Kyla Richardson

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