‘13-anyos na Pinay gymnast, namamayagpag sa UAE; inspired kay double gold medalist Carlos Yulo’

‘13-anyos na Pinay gymnast, namamayagpag sa UAE; inspired kay double gold medalist Carlos Yulo’

“Hindi ka magtatagumpay kung hindi ka magsisimula”.

Isang kasabihan na pinanghahawakan ng mga indibidwal na purisigidong abutin ang kanilang pangarap sa buhay. 

Kagaya ng 13-anyos na si Gabrielle Anne Opida Ramos mula sa United Arab Emirates na gumagawa ngayon ng pangalan sa larangan ng gymnastics. 

Sa edad na tatlong taong gulang, nahilig na sa ballet si Gabrielle at kalauna’y nagkaroon ng interes sa Rhythmic Gymnastics.

Dahil determinadong matuto at maging mahusay na gymnast, nagsimula siyang pumasok sa isang Rhythmic Gymnastics school sa Dubai noong 2022 upang mas lalong mahubog ang kanyang “flexibility” at “confidence”.

Hindi nagtagal ay unti-unti nang nagbunga ang mga pagsasanay ni Gabrielle matapos matagumpay na masungkit ang maraming parangal mula sa iba’t ibang kumpetisyon.

Ang gold medal, trophy at certificate mula sa nilahukang Alem Cup Rhythmic Gymnastics Dubai kung saan hinirang siya bilang 1st place.

Gabrielle snatched the gold medal, trophy and certificate in the Alem Cup Rhythmic Gymnastics Dubai last 2023. (Photo by Gabrielle Anne Opida Ramos)

Nakuha rin ng batang gymnast ang 3rd spot sa Gymnastika Solo Cup na pinakamalaking international gymnast cup sa UAE.

Gabrielle joined the Gymnastika Solo Cup. (Photo by Gabrielle Anne Opida Ramos)

Itinanghal siya bilang 1st at 3rd place sa IV Stryx Sports International Rhythmic Gymnastics kung saan naglaban-laban ang nasa 30 international teams. 

Gabrielle during her first-ever freehand competition in UAE (Photo by Gabrielle Anne Opida Ramos)

“My first ever competition was when I had my first routine which was freehand (without apparatus) from that very first competition I won first place,” kwento ni Gabrielle. 

“Since then, I’ve gotten multiple international competitions where it gained my confidence and I started to have more routines with different apparatus such as ball and hoop,” dagdag niya. 

Sa patuloy na pamamayagpag ng kanyang karera sa gymnastics, inamin ni Gabrielle na isa raw ang kapwa Pinoy at ang 2024 Paris Olympics double gold medalist na si Carlos Edriel Yulo sa kanyang itinuturing na inspirasyon.

Filipino double gold medalist Carlos Edriel Yulo during the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics All-Around Finals in 2024 Paris Olympics. (Photo by International Gymnastics Federation – FIG)

“He reminds me a lot that I should do my best to win the gold. And it shows me that all the hard works I have done, it’ll always pay off at the end with good results and rewards without giving up,” saad ni Gabrielle. 

Gaya ni Caloy, gusto rin ng Pinay gymnast na sumali balang araw sa mas malaking kumpetisyon upang irepresenta ang bansang Pilipinas. 

“In the future I would also love to see myself going to the Olympics someday and seeing my family, friends, teammates, coaches and my country, Philippines and UAE proud of me,” determinadong sagot ng batang atleta.

Ang kwento ni Gabrielle ay isa lamang paalala sa mga kapwa batang atleta na huwag matakot at mapagod sa pag-abot ng mga minimithing pangarap. 

Gaya niya, lahat ay nagsisimula sa pinakamababa bago tuluyang maabot ang rurok ng tagumpay na kinaroroonan na ni Gabrielle ngayon. “Once you start doing gymnastics, don’t give up, because when you continue, you will notice that all your hard work will motivate you into doing well and you should know to yourself that you should keep doing what you love to do and always follow your dreams and pray for God’s guidance in everything you do”, mensahe niya. (IBC-13 Digital)