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PHL bags first SEA Games 2019 gold medal at triathlon event
Host country the Philippines got its first gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games (SEA) 2019 when John "Rambo" Chicano crossed the finish line ahead of all competitors at the men's triathlon event in Subic, Zambales on Sunday.
Chicano was cheered and met by his loved ones and fellow Filipinos at the finish line, as seen in a video shared by GMA News reporter Ian Cruz on Twitter.
Another Filipino, Kim Remolino, won the silver medal at the same event.
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FULL COVERAGE: 30th Southeast Asian Games on GMA News Online
A SEA Games 2017 triathlon silver medalist, Chicano used to mop floors as a janitor at his coach's bike shop.
Chicano was just 18 years old when he started to work for Melvin Fausto, who will turn out to be his mentor.
Fausto saw potential in Chicano, which prompted him to give the latter a chance.
Remolino meanwhile, was one of the 6,500 runners who joined the second leg of the torch run for the SEA Games earlier this month at the Cebu South Coastal Road. —KG, GMA News