TAGAYTAY – Gold medal winner Jermyn Prado nearly failed to join the women’s individual time trial of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Prado along with her teammate Marella Salamat were initially barred from racing by technical officials as their triathlon bikes didn’t meet competition standards, according to competition manager Lorenzo Lomibao.
“The girls were crying sa tent at nawalan na ng loob. We did emergency measures. Road bike na sana gagamitin pero walang aero bars,” said Lomibao.
But a panel of commissaires later allowed Prado and Salamat to race, provided they remove two contraptions in their bikes.
Prado was relieved that the situation was fixed with the help of Philcycling president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino and cycling patron Judes Echauz of Standard Insurance.
“Merong mga aberya. Muntik na kaming hindi pagamitin. Dapat road [bike] ang gagamitin. Pang-triathlon ‘yung bike namin pero nagawan naman ng paraan … Akala ko nga po hindi ako mag-go-gold,” said Prado.
Prado said the gold medal was a culmination of her hardwork over the past few months, highlighting a journey that began when she left a job as a welder at the Pagbilao Power Plant in Quezon to become a member of the Philippine Navy enlisted personnel and later a cyclist.
“’Yung preparation namin dito, medyo matagal na rin po dahil kasama namin ‘yung boys ng Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance. Maganda ensayo namin kasi nababatak kami kasama mga lalake,” said Prado.
Prado said she made a last push in the final part of the race, which proved to be the difference as she won by four seconds. She collapsed at the end of the race due to sheer exhaustion.
“Inall-out ko na. Naniniwala ako na wala nang bukas. Bigay na ‘yung best. Sabi nga ng coach ko, di bale namang mamatay, wag lang mapahiya sa sariling bansa,” said Prado. “Ito ‘yung kauna-unahang SEA Games ko. Nanalo naman ako pero SEA Games ‘yung pinakamalaki."
Prado also has a chance to win a second gold as she will also compete in the massed start on Friday.
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