Philippine Artistic Swimming Team Bags 3 Bronze Medals at Hong Kong Open

The Philippine artistic swimming team continues to make waves in the international arena, bringing home three bronze medals from the recently concluded Panasonic Pan Asia 21st Hong Kong Artistic Swimming Open Championships, held at the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool.

At the forefront of this stellar performance was 15-year-old Antonia Lucia Raffaele from Bacolod City, who showcased elegance and skill to win bronze in the Youth 13–15 Figures and Solo Free Routine (International Category) with a total of 202.22 points.

Raffaele later teamed up with 13-year-old Zoe Lim to clinch another bronze medal in the Duet Free Routine (Youth 13–15 International Category). The Philippine team, composed of Maddison Durban (10), Vanni Duvongco (12), Annika Ritual (13), Sophia Solideo (12), Nyx Uy (13), Lim, and Raffaele, also secured a third-place finish in the Team Free Routine (International Category).

“This is a wonderful achievement for Toni, her coach Giella Garcia Sanchez, the NOGCC Artistic Swimming Team, and Philippine Aquatics, Inc.,” said Ida Marie Macasa-Raffaele, Toni’s personal coach at the NOGCC Swim Club in Bacolod. “Toni first competed internationally just 15 months ago. With few national events, we’ve had to travel abroad for experience. She’s incredibly self-motivated—she sets her own goals and works at them daily.”

National coach Maria Graciella Jasmina Sanchez also commended the team’s dedication and perseverance.

“For the past year and a half, Zoe and Toni have participated in eight international competitions. Our mindset has always been focused on growth, exposure, and learning,” she shared in a Facebook post. “This sport is incredibly technical—just the manual spans over 300 pages—but our love for it continues to grow. We say ‘Para Sa Bayan,’ but we also know that we must love what we do to truly keep going. Today’s milestone is not just about medals—it’s a confirmation that we’re on the right path.”

Raffaele, Lim, and Durban previously competed at the Southeast Asian Age-Group Championships last June in Bangkok. While the team missed the podium, they delivered significantly improved performances.

The Philippines became more actively involved in international artistic swimming after hosting the 2024 Asian Age-Group Championships at New Clark City in Tarlac.

“From just two swimmers, the NOGCC is now training 10 athletes,” said Coach Graciella. Among them is 17-year-old Carmina Sanchez Tan from Talisay City, Negros Occidental, who is currently competing in the United States with the Meraquas of Irvine Artistic Swimming Team. At the 2025 Junior Olympic Championships in Arlington, Texas, Tan won silver in the Duet Free Routine with partner Karen Cho and placed 6th in the Solo Free. The Meraquas also took gold in the Team Free, successfully defending their national title.

“This is a promising time for artistic swimming in the Philippines,” said Philippine Aquatics, Inc. (PAI) Secretary General Eric Buhain. “We at PAI are committed to ensuring that all aquatic disciplines—diving, artistic swimming, open water, water polo, and competitive swimming—receive ample support in line with the campaign of World Aquatics.”(DAS)