To say that UAAP Season 80 was a splash for Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles rookie Chloe Daos is an understatement. It was way more than a splash. It was like a huge crashing wave of success for the 18-year-old wunderkind.
In her first year, she already earned three prestigious UAAP awards. Last October, she was named the Rookie of the Year and the Most Valuable Player, collecting six golds and a silver during the four-day competition.
Most recently, she was hailed as the UAAP Season 80 Athlete of the Year.
She was chosen after meeting the tough criteria of being one of the MVPs among the league’s 15 sports and being a representative of the Philippines in an international-level competition. She represented the country in the Southeast Asian Age Group Swimming Championships in 2017, where she bagged a silver medal for the 200M butterfly event.
“I think it’s just really amazing, and I’m still in shocked that all of this has happened.
“But I’m extremely grateful to be part of the UAAP because it allows athletes to showcase their talents in their respective sports,” said the Immaculate Conception Academy alumna.
Daos dominated the butterfly and freestyle events in the swimming competition held last October, stacking golden finishes upon golden finishes. Her victories bolstered Ateneo to the championship once again.
In all that glory, she confessed that as a freshman, she still gets caught up in the immense academic pressure vested upon any Ateneo student-athlete.
“Well, Ateneo is crazy.
“Apart from having a lot of academic requirements, we also have a lot of trainings, and I think it’s just really been fulfilling, because you have to manage your time well. However, even if it’s hard, it’s still rewarding in the end,” she shared.
After a stellar performance in just her rookie year, expectations are undeniably high for Daos to defend the MVP honors and to carry Ateneo to another championship. But she remains humble and assures that she will simply do her best.
“No expectations of anything. Just an assurance of my best effort, and hopefully that will be enough.”
