Diver turns to trampoline

For 32-year-old Rexel Ryan Fabriga of Zamboanga City, there is life after a successful career in diving. He won three straight gold medals in synchronized 10-meter platform diving at the 2003, 2005 and 2007 Southeast Asian Games. Fabriga partnered with Jaime Asok in 2003 and 2007 and with Kevin Kong in 2005. He made it to the 2008 Beijing Olympics in the 10-meter platform event but crashed out of the qualifying round to finish No. 28.

At the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, Fabriga had a forgettable performance. He teamed with Asok in completing three rounds then did not bother to compete in the last three, finishing eighth and last in the synchronized 10-meter platform event. Fabriga had hoped to qualify for the 2012 London Games but gave up on his dream for a second Olympic chance because of injuries.

Fabriga found a new lease on life in gymnastics and became a coach at St. Scholastica’s College before Evan Alvia, known for heading the Cheerleading Philippines Federation, invited him to help out in trampoline. Fabriga has now been involved with trampoline gymnastics the last two years.

“The principles of diving and trampoline gymnastics are similar,” said Fabriga. “I’m grateful that I was given a chance to continue my involvement in sports as a coach.” It’s interesting that trampoline inventor George Nissen was an All-American diver and gymnast. Nissen invented the trampoline as a training tool in 1934 and was in Sydney when trampoline gymnastics was introduced as an Olympic event in 2000. Nissen was also at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a guest. Nissen died at the age of 96 in 2010. 

Fabriga and Liw Peralta are coaching the Philippine team of Deo Francisco, 23, B. J. Mendoza, 21, Erin Abaniel, 16, Shane Peralta, 11 and Fiona Ventenilla, 16 at the 4th Trampoline Gymnastics Asian Junior and Senior Championships in the University of Makati gym this weekend. The competition started yesterday and ends today. Fabriga and Peralta are Level 1 grade coaches in trampoline gymnastics, having passed last year’s test in Singapore under the supervision of the Asian Gymnastics Union. 

Liw Peralta, 42, competed in aerobics and artistic gymnastics before moving to coaching. His son Shane, who was a Philippine National Games standout with four gold medals last May, is the youngest participant in this weekend’s event. Shane started training in trampoline gymnastics in February last year and his development has been phenomenal. Because he’s underage, Shane isn’t eligible for a slot at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires this October. This weekend’s junior event is a qualifier for the Youth Olympics but only for competitors who are 16-17. Three of the five Filipino gymnasts had previous international experience with Mendoza, Abaniel and Francisco having competed in Singapore. Francisco has also competed in Japan.

In this weekend’s event, China has the largest contingent with 16 delegates, including 10 athletes, all in the junior level. The 10 countries participating in the competitions are China, HongKong, India, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Democratic Republic of Korea, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and host Philippines. China, Japan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are competing strictly in the junior division. Overseeing the event are Federacion Internationale du Gymnastique technical officials Liu Xing of China and Nikolai Makarov of Russia.

Last Friday, Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP) president Cynthia Carrion hosted a welcome dinner for the technical officials, heads of delegations, coaches, athletes and organizing committee of this weekend’s event at the Conrad Hotel. It was a well-attended and successful affair with the famed Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild entertaining the guests with songs and dance. Guests joined Sindaw in dancing the tinikling in the encore. The program opened with the guests singing to “Together We Can Change The World” as they embraced and shook hands in the spirit of sportsmanship. 

PSC chairman Butch Ramirez sent a message that was read by GAP secretary-general Bettina Pou. “To our young participants, you all have chosen a wise path to pursue sports,” he said. “Whether you lose or win, it is the experience that is the treasure in events like this that you take back with you.”