AFTER a dismal performance in the 2016 Rio Olympics, three-time Olympian Marestella Torres Sunang bounced back by snatching the gold medal for the Philippines in women’s 35 to 39 event of the just-concluded 22nd World Masters Athletics Championships in Perth, Australia.
The 35-year-old native of San Jose, Negros Oriental said, “First time ko mag compete sa World Masters Championship. It’s more fun kasi by age category kaya nakakatuwang maglaro. I did short jump approach just to be sure for the gold medal.”
She said that considering her lack of training following the Rio debacle, she did not make the full approach.
“Binawasan ko ng 10 meters ang approach ko para hindi ganun kahirap mag-training since off season na kasi ako. Short approach lang talaga ginawa ko,” she said in a Facebook interview with SunStar Davao.
She bested entries from Australia and Italy who pocketed the silver and bronze, respectively, in the bi-ennial event that attracted over 10 participants from different countries.
She said Spain will be the next host in 2018.