FILE – Southeast Asian Games – Artistic Gymnastics – Olympic Marquee, Phnom Penh, Cambodia – May 8, 2023 – The Philippines’ John Ivan Cruz in action. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa
PHNOM PENH—John Ivan Cruz burst into tears after claiming the gold medal in the men’s floor exercise in artistic gymnastics on Tuesday at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
“Life is hard back in the Philippines, but all the sacrifices and the hardships in training are all worth it,” said the 21-year-old Cruz from Malate, Manila, who secured his first individual gold in the Games after helping the PH men’s team bag a silver on Monday.
Cruz took the floor ahead of the rest among seven finalists and registered 13.850 points while Thailand’s Tikumporn Surintornta pocketed the silver with 13.800 points. Winding up with the bronze is Indonesia’s Joseph Hatoguan (13.500).
Cruz, who has six other siblings and became a full-time athlete after finishing high school, is assured of at least P300,000 in cash incentives from the government through the Philippine Sports Commission.
“This will tremendously help my family. We have nothing and this is our way out of poverty,” said Cruz.
