Filipino-Norwegian Christian Tio saved Team Pilipinas’ campaign with a kiteboarding silver medal in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The 17-year-old Boracay native finished second in the final race of men’s kiteboarding on Sunday to move up from fourth the day before, for the silver performance after almost a week of racing at the Club Nautico San Isidro.
Tio actually shared second-place honors with Toni Vodisek of Slovenia, while Deury Corniel of Dominican Republic sealed the gold medal after winning three of the six races prior to Sunday’s final race.
The competition was supposed to have ended on Friday but the lack of strong winds forced the organizers to cancel several races.
“My mindset was just to go for it and enjoy,” said Tio.
“Thank you for everyone who supported me, giving all the love.”
Tio prepared for over two months – four weeks in Dominican Republic and four weeks in Buenos Aires – to get his body and mind in great condition.
“I didn’t suffer from jetlag. I was fully rested after arriving here early,” said Tio, whose next objective is to go home to the Philippines.
Archer Nicole Marie Tagle’s partnership with Hendrik Oun of Estonia allowed them to advance to the quarterfinals of the mixed international event, where they were beaten by New Zealand’s Rebecca Jones and Chihchun Tang of Chinese Taipei, 5-1, at the Parque Sarmiento archery range.
“Medyo mahangin po kanina at naapektuhan nito ang performance ko,” admitted Tagle, a Southeast Asian Games silver medalist last year in Kuala Lumpur.
The 17-year-old from Dumaguete City has another chance to medal when Tagle meets Great Brittain’s Alyssia Tromans-Ansell in the round of 16 women’s individual recurve come Tuesday.
Yuka Saso and Carl Janno Corpus scored a five-over 75 for 18th place in the mixed team event, as the tandem try to chase leaders Atthaya Thitikul and Vanchai Luangnitikul of Thailand in Monday’s final round.
