Sydney Francisco

Sydney Dirraklai Francisco (born 24 May 2005) is a Palauan sprinter. She qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics and served as one of the Palauan flag bearers.

Biography Francisco was born on 24 May 2005 and grew up in Palau. She received her name, Sydney, as her mother, Peoria Koshiba, competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics held in Sydney, Australia. She started competing in the sport of athletics at an early age and at age 13, she began training, as a hurdler under Mizuka Honda of the Palau Track and Field Association. She competed in several events at the 2018 Micronesian Games in Yap, including in the 100m and 400m hurdles, the 200m sprint and the relay; she won the silver medal in the 400m hurdles.

Francisco attended Koror Elementary School in Palau, and after she graduated from there, moved to Micronesia in 2019, where she attended Xavier High School on the island of Weno. Later that year, she competed in two events at the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands. She served as the co-flag bearer at the opening Olympic ceremony, along with Jion Hosei.