Iloilo teenager turns cycling pastime into golden moment

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, PALAWAN—What began as a pandemic pastime has propelled Ysabel Nicole Jamero into the spotlight.

The 13-year-old talent from Iloilo pedaled to victory in the girls’ 13-under criterium at the Philippine Sports Commission-Batang Pinoy Games on Monday, completing the 20-minute plus two laps race on a 1.3-kilometer loop in 24 minutes and 48 seconds.

“I [started riding] with my dad and siblings during the pandemic and got hooked,” Jamero said. “After winning this race, I’m now aspiring to get into the national team.”

Ormoc City’s Lauren Lee Tan launched multiple attacks but couldn’t close the gap on Jamero, finishing second in 26:20. La Union’s Joanna Mae Armendez narrowly took third with a time of 26:21.

Jamero finished third in the same event last year in Tagaytay City, when she was still learning the sport.

“Back then, I just learned to ride a bike. This gold will inspire me to get better in future races,” said the seventh-grader.

Elsewhere in the Batang Pinoy Games, Bhianca Espenilla claimed gold in the women’s javelin with a throw of 51.17 meters at Ramon V. Mitra Sports Complex.

Swimmers Arveen Naeem Taguinota of Pasig City and Sophia Rose Garra of Malabon emerged as the first triple-gold medalists of the games. Both won the boys’ and girls’ 12-13 200-meter backstroke events, adding to their two golds from Sunday’s opening day.

Taguinota and Garra shared the spotlight with Quezon City’s Jaime Uaandor Maniago, who broke the boys’ 16-17 100-meter breaststroke record. Maniago clocked 1:06.78, eclipsing the previous record of 1:07.06 set by Pasig City’s Morie Pabalan in 2023. INQ