Alegado, Amador, both 11, scoop gold, silver medals in senior-level skateboarding

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MAZEL PARIS ALEGADO (right) Elizabeth Amador — FACEBOOK.COM/OLYMPICPHI

FACEBOOK.COM/OLYMPICPHI

CHONBURI — At 11, girls are usually into drawing, dancing, gaming, watching movies, mingling with friends, exploring personal style and the likes.

It’s most of this stuff for Mazel Paris Alegado, too, but add in skateboarding with passion and bringing honors to the Philippines in major, senior-level international competitions.

When she was 9, Ms. Alegado skated for the country at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou — the youngest in the contingent and possibly the whole joust — and made it through to the women’s skateboarding park finals, finishing seventh out of eight.

She’s back at it here at the 33^rd Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).

And with her dazzling display of skills and tricks, Alegado roared to victory in the same event, becoming possibly the youngest-ever Philippine SEAG gold medalist.

“It feels crazy because it’s my first SEA Games and I’m proud to represent the Philippines,” said the California-based skater, who also made sure to enjoy this stint like “tweeners” do.

“It was hyped. Everyone’s hyping me up. It’s so fun, dancing, making new friends and making TikTok,” she said.

Ms. Alegado’s triumph was made more special by the runner-up finish of teammate and compatriot Elizabeth Amador, also 11. They placed ahead of 12-year-old Thailand’s Freya Brown and six others. Then their mentor Jericho Francisco, Jr. scooped the mint in the men’s side and the joy just doubled up.

The young champ hopes her feat would encourage others.

“I love inspiring people, little kids and girls. I just hope a lot of people saw that (competition) and they will like skateboarding like how I got inspired by my brother,” she said.

Ms. Alegado first boarded a skate when she was five and instantly loved it — to her Mom’s shock.

“I was in shock at first because I was putting her in cheerleading and ballet and when she chose the sport it was a shock. It was scary at first because obviously like the falls, the bails,” her mother Pauline, shared. “But I saw how she loved it so I supported her.”

This journey, hopefully, will take Ms. Alegado to Los Angeles in three years’ time.

“She worked hard for this (SEAG gold) so we’re going to keep going and see where it takes us. We keep on practicing and keep going. Hopefully, (qualify for) 2028 Olympics,” said the proud mother. — Olmin Leyba