Geisler retires on high note

Three-time Southeast Asian (SEA) Games taekwondo gold medalist Donnie Geisler said the other day he is retiring from active competition in the sport that has been his passion for 20 years.

Geisler, 27, claimed his third SEA Games gold medal by beating Pativat Thongsalap, 7-6, in the lightweight finals at the Cuneta Astrodome last Monday. On the way to the finals, he trounced contenders from Myanmar and Laos convincingly.

"It’s time to retire," said Geisler. "I’m tired and full of injuries. I plan to explore other opportunities. I know Master Hong (Sung Chon) will try to convince me to fight one last time in the Asian Games next year but I hope he understands why I’m doing this. I’m leaving on a high note, coming from a victory in the SEA Games, and I’m happy for that."

Geisler said he nearly dropped out of the team for the SEA Games.

After he dislocated his left ankle at the Athens Olympics last year, Geisler took an eight-month rest. He didn’t rehab as he should’ve and lost his fire to return to action. But Master Hong persuaded him to come back.

"I decided to resume training three months before the SEA Games and I even fractured my left hand during sparring," said Geisler. "My hand was in a cast for three weeks so I lost more training time. I joined the national team at the ULTRA where we stayed a month and that was when I intensified my rehab, doing therapy twice a day to strengthen my ankle."

Geisler said Master Hong and coaches Jobet Morales, Stephen Fernandez, Roberto Cruz, Eski Ripoll and Noel Veneracion pushed him to get back into shape.

Last September, Geisler competed in the Korean Open but was only a shadow of his old self. Master Hong motivated him to work harder.

"No regrets," said Geisler. "I’ll always be grateful to my coaches for pushing me because if not, I wouldn’t have been able to fight and win the gold with my son watching."

Geisler’s son Robbie, who turns six on Dec. 11, sat glued to his seat with grandmother Ana Marcos while his father fought the fight of his life. When it was over, Robbie clung to his father’s leg and wouldn’t let go even as the call was made for the medalists to step onto the podium.

"Donnie is a doting father and his son adores him," said Ana Marcos. "His son calls him "Dada" and they have a special relationship. Donnie loves his son dearly."

For Geisler, winning the gold in front of his son was worth the long hours of therapy, training and sacrifice.

"I didn’t feel my injuries at all," said Geisler. "I was so fired up because my family was watching and the crowd was cheering me on. My Thai opponent is only 19 and he’s one of the best in Thailand. I beat him in Vietnam two years ago and he has improved a lot since then. He’ll definitely be an Olympic medal prospect in Beijing."

Geisler said he thought of retiring after the Olympics last year. In Athens, he lost his first match to the eventual silver medalist from Turkey via a close 10-9 score. And in his next match, he dislocated his left ankle and limped off the mat with the score tied, 7-all, in the second round. No surgery was required as there was neither a break nor a fracture. But the ligament damage was extensive.

"My shin hit my opponent’s knee when I went up for a kick," said Geisler. "I overextended my ankle. I wanted to continue fighting but the pain was so intense. I just couldn’t go on."

In retrospect, Geisler said his career has been fulfilling. He struck gold in the SEA Games in 1999, 2003 and this year and silver in 2001. The 6-1 jin took the silver at the Bangkok Asian Games and the World Championships in Germany, both in 1998.