NCR swimmers Titus Sia, Sophia Garra win seven gold medals each in Palarong Pambansa

ILOCOS NORTE - Young NCR swimmers Titus Sia and Sophia Garra have emerged as the most bemedalled athletes in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte.

This after the two 12-year-old tankers each completed a seven-gold medal sweep, dominating the waters of the Ferdinand E. Marco Memorial Stadium in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. 

Sia, who only had one bronze last year in Cebu, came back this year with nothing in mind but to win the top prize.

The Xavier School's student-athlete ruled the 100m backstroke, 200m freestyle, and 400m freestyle through record-breaking performances.

Sia clocked in 1:05.44 in 100m backstroke to eclipse the 1:06.38-second mark of Seth Martin in 2015. He registered 2:07.86 and 4:31.39 in 200m freestyle and 400m freestyle, respectively, to shatter the previous records of Rafael Barreto (2:08.12) and Omar Dacera (4:35.42).

To cap off his stellar run in his second Palaro stint, Sia also reigned supreme in 100m freestyle, 4x50m medley relay, 50m backstroke, and 4x50m freestyle relay.

"It feels very good. Yes po (I expected to have this performance) because ever since Palaro (last year), my time drastically keeps going down until now," Sia said.

"[I dedicate my achievements] sa mga parents ko, sa brothers, 'yung mga coaches ko, at 'yung mga friends ko sa swimming."

Garra, meanwhile, was in a different league of her own in the elementary girls division. 

The De La Salle University Araneta representative broke two meet records on the way to bagging seven gold medals as well. 

In the 100m backstroke, Garra eclipsed her own previous mark of 1:08.50 after clocking in 1:07.61 this time while she also erased the previous mark of 2:33.12 by Michaela Mojdeh in the 200m individual medley, posting 2:31.41 seconds. 

She also topped the 50m, 100m, and 200m events in freestyle as well as 4x50m medley relay and 4x50m freestyle. 

Garra, who captured five gold medals and two silver medals, admitted she targeted more record-breaking outings, but stressed she's still satisfied with what she had shown this year. 

"Sobrang saya po kasi goal ko naman po talaga mag-7 golds ngayong Palaro. Masaya naman po kahit di ko po nakuha 'yung ibang records na gusto ko," Garra said.

"Nagte-thank you po talaga ako sa lahat ng nag-support sa akin nito pong Palaro. Gusto ko po sana mas maraming records na-break. 4 po yung target ko. 1 free and 2 free po sana kasi yun po yung trinaining ko po talaga papunta pong Palaro."

READ | Palarong Pambansa Medal Tally

—JKC, GMA Integrated News