Club Gymnastica, established in 1981 as a pioneering institution for training Philippine gymnastics athletes, emerged victorious among teams from across the country in the recently concluded GAP (Gymnastics Association of the Philippines) CHALLENGE 2023 held at the GAP National Training Center in Intramuros, Manila.
The Club Gymnastica actively competed in three out of the seven categories at the event, specifically P3, HP3, and FIG Junior. Several talented gymnasts from Club Gymnastica, including Amara Zoe Lagdameo, Maria Celina Gonzales, Zayanna Ysabel Enriquez, Chiara Lourice Acedera, Gilanah Raine San Pedro, Jia Mae Cabatingan, and Reeze Angel Semacio, achieved remarkable results. In total, the club secured an impressive medal tally of seven gold medals, nine silver medals, and three bronze medals.
Chiara Lourice Acedera, the Individual All Around winner, secured the overall gold medal in the P3 category, while Gilanah Raine San Pedro received the silver medal in the same category. In the HP3 category, Maria Celina Gonzales claimed the overall gold medal. Additionally, Amara Lagdameo excelled in the all-around FIG Junior category, earning the silver medal.
Club Gymnastica President Susan David Talingting said, “We take pride in the successes of our athletes and really commend and recognize their hard work, dedication, and discipline. Since 1981, it has been our mission to produce world-class Filipino gymnastics athletes who can go head-to-head against the world’s best.”
Club Gymnastica also takes great pride in the fact that four of the current Women’s Philippine National Team members are products of their program. With this success, the club aims to inspire and pave the way for the next generation of talented gymnasts to follow in their footsteps.
Talingting highlighted that the GAP Challenge plays a crucial role as a qualifying competition, offering opportunities for gymnasts to earn rankings and potentially secure a spot in the Developmental Pool and National Training Pool.
“A win in the recently held competition is a big step for the young athletes, as they are one step closer to fulfilling their dream of going to the Nationals and eventually getting the honor of representing the country in future international gymnastics events,” ended Talingting.
