SEA Games: PH rower Cris Nievarez captures gold in sculls

Rower Cris Nievarez with his gold medal in rowing. PHOTO BY JUNE NAVARRO

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—Rower Cris Nievarez possessed a valuable catalyst strong enough to catapult him to the gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The 19-year-old breadwinner from Atimonan, Quezon can now provide more for the livelihood of his family after topping lightweight single sculls event on Saturday at the Triboa Bay here.

“I am the only one who works for our family,’’ said Nievarez in Filipino. “This is the motivation that gave me the strength to excel.’’

A member of the national rowing squad for five years and counting, Nievarez will receive a cash bounty of P600,000 for his victory in his first SEA Games from the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Nievarez clocked seven minutes and 34.27 seconds while Siripong Chaiwichitchonkul of Thailand completed the 2000-meter race in 7:35.01 for the silver.

Kakan Kusmania of Indonesia placed third in 7:39.54.

Nievarez duplicated the golden feat of Nestor Cordova in the 2013 SEA Games held in Myanmar.