TAGAYTAY CITY, Cavite – The Philippines struck gold and bronze in the youth mixed pair event of the 10th Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships on Thursday, August 6, 2026, as two young pairs made unforgettable international debuts at the Tagaytay CT Velodrome.
Golden Debut on Home Soil
Rhimel Daniel Cabides and Antonette Amante scored 17.80 points, tying with Vietnam’s Ann Thinh Tran and Ngoc Gia Nguyen. The judges broke the tie by awarding the Philippine duo a higher execution mark of 7.50 against Vietnam’s 7.45, giving them the gold medal.
General Santos City’s Rhys Enoch Balmayor and John Mikaela Ladaran clinched bronze with a score of 17.150 points. Both pairs were making their first appearance on the international stage, yet they performed with the composure of veterans.
Tiebreaker Drama and Precision
Aerobic gymnastics routines are evaluated on difficulty, execution, and artistry. When the total scores are identical, the execution score becomes the decisive factor, and the Philippine duo’s clean, synchronized movements earned them the advantage.
The tiebreaker moment was tense, but for the 14-year-old Amante, the reward was hearing the Philippine national anthem played in front of a home crowd. She said, “We have proven that we can compete internationally. It’s nice to hear the national anthem of the Philippines.”
From Dream to Reality
Amante and Cabides are Grade 8 classmates at Teodoro Alonzo High School. Amante had already won three golds at the Palarong Pambansa in May, but an Asian championship was a different level. The 11-year-old Ladaran described the experience as surreal, a dream they never expected to come true.
The young athletes underwent rigorous training under coach Carlo Joshua Tangonan, a former national team member who won a bronze in the mixed pair event at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia.
A Coach’s Faith and the Future
Tangonan expressed pride in both pairs, acknowledging the difficult journey and sacrifices made. He thanked the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines for giving junior athletes the chance to face top-caliber Asian gymnasts. “I am very happy with the result,” he said.
The championship gathered nearly 400 athletes from 12 countries, providing a stage for the Philippines to showcase its rising talent. The success of these young duos points to a bright future for the sport in the country.
Home Stage and Sporting Pride
The competition was held under the theme “Leap, Dance, One Asia,” with the velodrome reconfigured into a three-floor arena seating 3,000 spectators. Local businesses supported the event, reflecting Tagaytay’s growing role in sports tourism. The youth pairs’ triumph reinforces the Philippines’ commitment to developing grassroots gymnastics and creating a clear pathway from junior ranks to the national team.
