Rappler
Joanie Delgaco, Kristine Paraon defy own expectations en route to SEA Games rowing gold
Filipino rowers Joanie Delgaco and Kristine Paraon secured the Philippines' first gold medal in rowing at the 2025 SEA Games, winning the women's double sculls event with a time of 8:16.976.
They outpaced Thailand's Rawian Sukkaew and Parisa Chaempudsa, who took silver with 8:21.634, and Vietnam's Thia Van Anh Nguyen and Thi Bich Ngoc Pham, who earned bronze with 8:26.447.
This is Delgaco's second gold medal in the women's double sculls, having previously won the event in the 2019 SEA Games.
Delgaco, the Philippines' first female rower to qualify for the Olympics, also won three medals in the 2021 SEA Games: a silver in the single sculls and two bronzes in the quadruple sculls and lightweight quadruple sculls.
Cris Nievarez earned a bronze medal in the men's single sculls finals with a time of 8:22.121.
Delgaco stated, "Iniisip po namin kagabi, nakikita po namin na parang pahirapan pa po 'yung bronze eh. Pero sabi ko sa sarili ko noong bago ako matulog kagabi, grabe talaga 'pag si Lord na 'yung gumalaw talaga. Walang imposible talaga."
Paraon added that they did not expect the gold medal due to strong opponents but trusted each other and their training.
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