THE Philippine artistic swimming team won three bronze medals from the recently concluded Panasonic Pan Asia 21st Hong Kong Artistic Swimming Open Championships at the Kowloon Park Swimming Pool.
Leading the way 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), VanniDuvongco (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.”
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.
