Alegarbes turns childhood struggles into APG gold

NAGOYA – Arjay Alegarbes was then a small, asthmatic 12-year-old boy diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia when he discovered swimming.

It changed his whole life forever.

Now 22, the Victorias City, Negros Occidental native came through with the performance of his life and captured his breakthrough Asian Para Games gold medal yesterday at the Rainbow Pool of the Nagoya City General Gymnasium.

He clocked a minute and 1.56 seconds in edging South Korean Kang Sungho and Thai Natirat Meeprom, who snared silver and bronze with times of 1:01.61 and 1:02.08, respectively.

“Dream come true,” said Alegarbes. “I promised them to get the gold in the Asian Para Games and I’m happy to win.”

He dedicated his feat to a beloved elder cousin who passed away recently.

“I dedicate this win to my country, coaches, athletes and Filipinos, especially my cousin Manang Lenny,” he said.

Dreaming doesn’t stop for Alegarbes.

“It’s a simple one, I want to join my coaches and team in the Paralympics,” he said.

It was the second gold for the country and fourth medal overall after Ernie Gawilan’s 400m freestyle S7 gold and Raemond Adefuin’s 100m breaststroke SB6 bronze the day before and silver also from Gawilan in the 200m individual medley SM7 yesterday.

The 2-1-1 haul pushed the Philippines to 14th spot in the medal standing.

In archery at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Multipurpose Square, Marzel Burgos, Augustina Bantiloc, Jannah Kate Ballesta and the mixed team of Bantiloc and Burgos all absorbed losses.

Same with Nikko Peralta and Patrick Lee in track cycling at the Izu Velodrome.

Meanwhile, Allain Ganapin, the national team’s lone entry in taekwondo, wades into battle versus Iranian Mahdi Pourrahnamaahmad in the men’s K44 -80kg section at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Gymnasium today.