Justin Kobe Macario, the Philippines' first gold medalist in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News/POC Media
BANGKOK – Taekwondo jin Kobe Macario landed on the podium at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games after stepping out of his comfort zone for the regional showcase.
Macario is no stranger to the SEA Games, previously winning silver and bronze in the mixed freestyle poomsae team event in 2021 and 2023. But this year was his first time to compete in the individual freestyle poomsae event.
The 23-year-old has been used to competing in team events, even winning gold in the last Asian Championships, so going solo was a huge adjustment for him.
READ: Justin Kobe Macario wins PH's first SEA Games gold in men's freestyle poomsae
"Noong una pong in-announce yung line-up namin, kinabahan po ako kasi hindi ako sanay sa SEA Games [individual] puro team po yung mga past SEA games ko po. And grinab ko po itong opportunity na to para maglaro and i-represent po yung country po," he told POC Media on Wednesday.
But Macario leaped to glory, bringing home the first gold for the Philippines in the biennial meet with a solid routine, finishing with a score of 8.200 points.
The 23-year-old said the sacrifice to skip the opening ceremony and train four more times before the big day proved to be worth it.
"Sobrang iba po kasi sa court may makikita ko mga kasama mo, ganun, kanina mag-isa mo lang, ganun. Parang sige, hindi lang para sa akin to, para sa country, sa lahat ng mga sumuporta po sa amin. Yun po yung mindset ko," Macario said.
"Naging confident naman po sa pinakita kong routine and parang minanifest ko na akin na po yung ginto," he added.
Macario later clinched bronze in the mixed freestyle poomsae team event along with Darius Venerable, Jesus Gabriel Derick Yape, Juvenile Faye Crisostomo, and Janna Dominique Olivia.
For now, the 23-year-old said he will take in the moment and get some rest before thinking about what's next for him.