Kiefer Ticao: Swimming his way to gold
Kiefer is setting his sights on the Southeast Asian Games in 2009 and the London Olympics in 2012
Kiefer Ticao sports his gold medal during the
Philippine Olympics Festival
With basketball as his first love, nobody expected that Kiefer Ticao, 18, of Oton, would end up winning golds in swimming. Also, Kiefer has an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), but despite this, he has excelled. Mom Jenny said that Kiefer's story is an inspiration to parents who have children like him.
He started swimming at age six and when his parents, Jenny and Zyril Ticao and mentors saw that he excelled in this sport, his training was intensified. At age nine, he started joining swimming competitions. Since then, he had been bagging golds, silvers and bronzes in the breaststroke category.
His first win was during the Batang Pinoy games in 1999 where he won a bronze medal. He played in three more Batang Pinoy competitions and won more medals.
His recent feat was willing seven gold, one silver and one bronze medals in the Philippine Olympics Festival National Championship held last Nov. 15 to 18, 2007 at Trace College, Los Baños, Laguna. He represented Iloilo City.
Kiefer earned a scholarship at the said college. He is under the mentoring of Pinky Brosas, an Oympian. The scholarship was granted by the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association.
To excel, Kiefer practices for two hours early in the morning and another two in the afternoon. His training includes gym and jogging. He also watches his diet and weight everyday.
He revealed that from swimming, he learned about discipline, sportsmanship and focus. This charming young man does not have a girlfriend yet because he wanted to focus on his sport.
Kiefer is setting his sights on the Southeast Asian Games in 2009 and the London Olympics in 2012.
Kiefer continues to pursue a dream in excelling in swimming. Along with it is the recognition that Iloilo City is a haven of athletes that are world-class.