PHILIPPINE DRAGON BOAT TEAM ENDS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BY WINNING 5TH GOLD MEDAL
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 08 Aug 2011
The Philippine Dragon Boat Federation team ended its 10th International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships in Tampa Bay, Florida with a rousing win in the 500 meter men?s small boat race to win its fifth gold medal in record-breaking fashion and cap a spectacular performance against all odds.
The victory in the final event took the Filipinos tall to 5 gold and 2 silver medals for a total of 7 in the top-level competition despite being denied recognition by the Philippine Olympic Committee and financial support by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Known as the ?Dragon Warriors? the Philippine team won the opening heat defeating Japan and Trinidad and Tobago, turning in a time of 2:38 to advance to the finals.
ABS-CBN?s Dyan Castillejo reported that in the finals ?, the Filipino paddlers once again stamped their class, smoking Australia, Japan, Italy and Puerto Rico to take the gold. Australia placed second in the event while Japan came in third.?
Castillejo, host of the popular sports show ?Sports Unlimited? whose crusade on behalf of the Philippine Dragon Boat team received tremendous response from the public as well as private sector sponsors said that the Dragon Warriors also? set new world records in all of the events that they won: the 1000-m men's event, the 200-m men's event, the 500-m men's event, the 200-m mixed event, and the 500-m mixed event.?
One of the highlights of the competition was the all-out support of Filipinos in Tampa Bay and other parts of the US.During the week-long competition, Filipinos cheered on the Dragon Warriors in every event that they competed in. They also brought food and drinks for the champion athletes. The officials and team members expressed their gratitude for the unbelievable support of their fellow Filipinos.
Castillejo noted that even the Dragon Warriors? competitors could not help but be amazed at their achievements. A member of the Trinidad and Tobago team which had earlier claimed that holding a world championship without the Philippines would be like staging the World Cup of football without Brazil said ?its a phenomenal team. We kept trying to keep with them, we aspire to be like them. They are our heroes.""
The Dragon Warriors will stay in Tampa Bay for 2 more days. They are set to fly back to Los Angeles on Wednesday and are scheduled to arrive in Manila on Friday morning to what is expected to be a heroes welcome.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
A Masterpiece of Boxing: Terence Crawford Dethrones Canelo Alvarez in Historic Showdown
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025LEWIS CROCKER IS CROWNED THE NEW IBF WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Sep 2025Battle of Undefeated: Callum Walsh Vanquishes Fernando Vargas Jr.
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Undercard Inferno: Mbilli and Martinez Deliver a Super Middleweight War Ending in a Thrilling Draw
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Crawford to defy odds?
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Clash of Titans: The Final Predictions for Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Weigh-In Results: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Sun, 14 Sep 2025Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 14 Sep 2025IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
Sat, 13 Sep 2025WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: CANELO - 167.5 LBS., CRAWFORD - 167.5 LBS.
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BELFAST: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER
Sat, 13 Sep 2025Canoy cancels title fight due to child’s death
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025