Sunday, November 02, 2008 Joboy and his Olympic dream By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
FOR good 10 years in his sport, 15-year-old tanker Jose Joaquin "Joboy" Silva Gonzalez already had a total of 354 gold medals, 84 silvers and 40 bronzes to his credit.
His recent conquest was copping the boys 13-14 400m individual medley (IM) gold medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Age-Group Swimming Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.
But this teener, son of businessman Manny Gonzalez and Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (Pasa) regional director Sylvaine "Deedee" Silva Gonzalez, had kept his feet on the ground.
I remembered interviewing him during his Philippine National Youth Games "Batang Pinoy Championships" years where he would reply with short words.
Joboy hasn't changed a bit. He was very direct with his answers to the questionnaire I sent him through e-mail.
I can say I've seen him grow up before my very eyes as far as his swimming is concerned.
I've covered him in local, regional and national competitions since he was seeing action in the six-under category 10 years ago with his doting parents in tow.
But the 15-year-old ace has become independent. His entry as a scholar at the Philippine Center for Excellence in Aquatic Sports (PCEAS) at Trace College in Los Banos, Laguna three years ago opened wider opportunities for him to pursue his dream of being an Olympian.
Indeed, Joboy might just really have a shot in his first-ever Olympics in London four years from now, what with his global training at the PCEAS.
"It is my greatest dream to be an Olympian just like my sports idol Carlos "Pinky" Brosas. He is an Olympian who honors his word," the former Ateneo de Davao University standout shared.
Thus, it really gives him a certain high whenever he competes abroad because he gets to represent the country just like any other Olympian.
"It really is a great achievement for me to compete for my country in an international competition," Joboy Gonzalez said.
The discipline he gets at the PCEAS also paves the way for him to be just on the right track of fulfilling his Olympic dream.
"I wake up at 6 a.m. for training that ends at 9 a.m., then I attend classes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I resume training at 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., then attend to my school work. I'm off to bed past 9 p.m. or by 10 p.m. That's been my routine here," the Laguna-based Davao City athlete said.
Reaping a harvest
Joboy engaged into swimming at age five with prodding from his parents. He made his competition debut in an age-group meet held at Ladislawa in May 1998 where he salvaged a bronze medal. Six months later, he salvaged his first gold in another age-group event held at Woodridge Country Club in Maa.
In 1999, he got to test his mettle outside Davao when he saw action in the 1st Mindanao Junior's Age-Group Swimming Meet in Cagayan de Oro City. He didn't disappoint himself with his two-gold and one-silver showing. He followed it up with one gold and four silvers in the 8th IASA Invitational in Iligan City.
But he sure wasn't ripe yet for a national event when he competed in the 1st Batang Pinoy Games in Bacolod City. He came home without a medal.
This debacle, however, didn't put him off. He instead joined six more competitions in 2000 including those held in Cebu City, Cagayan de Oro and Dumaguete City for his needed exposure.
And lo and behold, his labor produced one gold and one silver in boys 7-8 category during the 2nd Batang Pinoy Games held in January 2001 in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. He repeated the feat on the third staging of the national grassroots sportsfest for 12 years old and below athletes in Bacolod.
He even surpassed expectations when he collected three golds on the same age bracket of the 4th Batang Pinoy Games in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan in 2002. He reaped a harvest in a host of other regional events after that.
Joboy made another milestone during the 27th Mantas Invitational in Hong Kong where he brought home three golds, one silver and one bronze in 2004.
In the 2005, he was entered in 14 tournaments. He bagged one silver and one bronze in elementary boys division in the Iloilo Palarong Pambansa. He went to Japan for the Tobiuo Cup also snatching one silver and one bronze.
The year 2006 was even more colorful as he finally swept four golds, two silvers and one bronze in the 2006 Palarong Pambansa in Naga City. The victory was sweeter when he was hailed most outstanding athlete.
On the same year, he clinched one gold, one silver and one bronze in the 30th SEA Age-Group in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Whew! That's quite a list.
The five-foot-six Joboy praised his parents and coach, whom he considers his inspiration, for their unending love and support. Their presence in his life truly made a whole lot of difference for this champion who is also a self-confessed bookworm.
