Elma still stoking old fire

KUALA LUMPUR (Via Globe Telecoms) — Armed with a big fighting heart, sheer will power and unwavering faith in Divine Providence, Elma Muros-Posadas said she will try to buck motherhood yet again as, at 34, she goes for a mind-boggling ninth long jump triumph while also taking a shot at the 400m low hurdles event.

"Sa isip ko at sa tingin ko sa katawan ko kaya ko pang mag-compete, kaya hindi pa rin ako nagsasawang lumaban," said Muros-Posadas, now a mother of a nine-year-old girl, on the eve of the start of athletics competition in the 21st Southeast Asian Games.

With Muros-Posadas passing the standards for the RP contingent to the Kuala Lumpur Games without a jump for over a year until taking the trials last month is nothing short of an incredible feat.

But why the long layoff? With some hesitation, Muros-Posadas divulged that she’s long been afflicted with a mysterious ailment that no doctor could diagnose.

"Ilang beses na akong nag-compete kahit may injury pero iba ang nararamdaman ko ngayon kaya matagal akong walang performance. Inaatake ako ng sakit pero naniniwala akong kaya ko pa rin lumaban dahil sa tulong ng Itaas," said Muros-Posadas though she begged from discussing further her sickness.

Whatever happens here, she said she’s happy just being in the team.

"Kung talunin ako ng mga bata okay lang dahil dapat lang naman na makahanap na tayo ng papalit sa akin," said Muros-Posadas, who’s already the most bemedalled athlete in SEAG track and field competitions with a total of 14 golds won in long jump, 100m, 200m, 100m hurdles, 400m low hurdles and heptathlon.

Muros-Posadas saved the RP athletics team from a gold-medal shutout in Brunei in 1999 when she won for the record eighth time the long jump, making the winning leap of 6.34m on her dramatic final try.

After a long respite, she did 6.16m on her very first jump in the time trial last Aug. 14 to make it to the team. "First time na talon ko iyon since Brunei. Tingin ko tinulungan ako ng itaas para gawin iyon," she said.