STROKE OF BRILLIANCE. Sorsogon pride Beatrize Maria Mabalay took home three gold medals after dominating the 200-meter, 100-meter, and 50-meter breaststroke events in her age group in the Batang Pinoy swimming competition in Manila on Friday (Dec. 22, 2023). She is the first Batang Pinoy gold medalist of the province. (Photo courtesy of Sorsogon-PIO Facebook)
LEGAZPI CITY – A 17-year-old tanker from Sorsogon province made waves after securing her third gold medal in the 2023 Batang Pinoy competitions in Manila on Friday.
Bulan town's pride, Beatrize Maria Mabalay, registered 34.95 seconds in the 50-meter breaststroke of the Girls' 16-17 division to secure her third gold.
On Thursday, she also dominated the 100m breaststroke, clocking one minute and 16.58 seconds, to beat Marikina's Clara Ysable Delos Santos (1:16.86).
Her first gold medal came Monday in the 200m breaststroke, which she won in 2:47.44.
Mabalay said her road to glory as the province's first Batang Pinoy gold medalist was not without challenges.
In an interview, Mabalay said erratic weather and the unavailability of a suitable pool near her town hampered her training.
She said her winning streak prior to Batang Pinoy gave her additional experience.
In April, she took home five gold medals in the modified Palarong Bicol in April -- 50m, 100m breaststroke and 200breaststroke, 200m individual medley, and 200m freestyle.
Mabalay again showed her prowess in the Marikina City Palarong Pambansa in July, pocketing a gold medal in the 200m and two silver medals in the 50m and 100m breaststroke.
She was also one of the 19 Philippine junior swimmers who competed in the 45th Southeast Asia Age Group Swimming Championships held in Jakarta, Indonesia in September.
Aside from the three breaststroke swimming events, Malabay also competed in the 200m individual medley and 400m freestyle in the Batang Pinoy. (PNA)
