Kitoy fulfills ultimate dream in Sydney

MANILA, Philippines - Roberto “Kitoy” Cruz considers his stint with the national team in the 2000 Sydney Olympics as his greatest moment and his victory in the 1991 SEA Games as the sweetest in a checkered taekwondo career.

 “My being an Olympian will remain my greatest moment in my taekwondo career. It’s every athlete’s ultimate dream (to represent the country in the Olympics),” said Cruz. “I was lucky enough to fulfill my dream in the 2000 Sydney Games.”

But good fortune almost always falls on truly talented athletes and Cruz showed he was a cut above the rest during his time, winning the gold medal (finweight division) a record six times in the SEA Games.

“My gold medal feat in the 1991 SEA Games here in Manila was both ironic and sweet because it was my very first gold medal won and in an international competition at that,” he said.

Truly, until that 1991 SEAG breakthrough, Cruz has never tasted victory on the local scene, which only spurred him to strive and work hard to excel in South Korea’s martial art.

And when he did, there was no stopping the talented Filipino jin, who also became a world champion in 1999.

“I was proud to be Pinoy. It was beyond words when I first won in 1991 since I never won any gold in the local scene,” recalled Cruz. “I was then able to defend my title in the SEA Games six times.”

He was also a five-time consecutive medalist in the World Championships and back-to-back medalist in the World Cup.

With taekwondo making it to the mainstream as far as local sports are concerned, Cruz believes the country will continue to produce world-class talents.