Justin Kobe Macario, the Philippines' first gold medalist in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News/POC Media
BANGKOK, Thailand (UPDATED) – The first gold medal of the Philippines in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games came from the men's individual freestyle poomsae event.
Justin Kobe Macario delivered the first gold of the country on Wednesday at the Fashion Island Shopping Mall in Bangkok, Thailand.
Macario impressed with his routine in the freestyle poomsae event, which included multiple flips and various kicks.
The Filipino taekwondo jin received a score of 8.200 points to top the event where there were six other competitors.
"Nagulat din po ako kanina na ako po yung unang gold ng Pilipinas. Sobrang saya po dahil isang karangalan po makauwi ng ginto for the country," he told POC Media after his win.
Macario was visibly ecstatic after bagging his first gold and first individual medal in the regional showcase.
"Nag-prepare kami ng dalawang coach, si coach Rani [Ortega] and Jeordan [Dominguez] po. Ang focus po namin is ibigay and i-perform kung ano po yung pinag-trainingan namin ng matagal. And si Lord na po yung bahala kung ano yung ibigay niya po sa amin. Sobrang thankful at binigay niya yung ginto sa akin po," the 23-year-old shared.
Macario missed the parade of nations during Tuesday evening's opening ceremony, but the athlete said the decision was worth it.
"Kahapon po nag-training kami four times bago sumalang dito and sinacrifice na namin po na hindi pumunta sa opening para makapag-prepare ng maayos po," he said.
Macario previously won silver and bronze in the mixed freestyle poomsae event in the 2021 and 2023 SEA Games.
Even if he has won medals in the Asian Championships and World Championships, he said winning in the regional showcase is a different feeling.
"Ibang iba din po kasi mostly lahat din ng mga nagpo-podium po sa World Championship, Asian Championship, itong mga SEA Games countries din po," he said.
Thailand's Koedkaew Atchariya nabbed silver with 8.100 points, while Malaysia's Ken Haw Chin captured bronze with 7.740 points.
Macario will still compete in the mixed team freestyle poomsae event this afternoon.
Earlier in the day, John Derrick Farr clinched bronze in the men’s downhill mountain bike event in Chonburi.
Farr's bronze was the first medal for Team Philippines in the regional showcase.
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