Justin Kobe Macario delivered a clean routine in the men’s Taekwondo Poomsae individual freestyle event to secure the Philippines’ first gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand on Wednesday, December 10.
Macario scored an 8.200, outperforming competitors from Thailand and Malaysia, who took second and third place, respectively. The event requires athletes to incorporate Taekwondo skills into a freestyle routine, highlighting advanced kicks, strikes, and blocks set to music.
Macario will also compete for a second gold in the mixed team freestyle event alongside Darius Venerable, Jeus Yape, Nikki Oliva, and Juvenile Crisostomo.
Meanwhile, the tandem of Jocel Ninobla and Patrick Perez claimed the country’s second bronze in the recognized mixed pair category after falling to Singapore in the semifinals. Earlier, Jerich Farr earned the Philippines’ first medal in men’s downhill mountain biking with a bronze.