Paul Christian Ocampo

'Physical Asia' star Amotti visits Manila; recalls memories with Team Philippines

Article (news)

Peter Andrew Acierto

Push Team

<p>South Korean star and <em>Physical: 100</em> Season 2 winner Amotti, whose real name is Kim Jae-hong, visited Manila to meet up with some of his fans earlier this week at an event. The CrossFit enthusiast shared some of his learnings after the horrific ankle injury he had in the past.</p><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWAonmPgfBL/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=607&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A294008.40000003576%2C%22ls%22%3A293781.5%2C%22le%22%3A293785%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="882" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Amotti talked at the Rethink Healthy Influencer Summit by AIA Philippines where he also discussed his memories with Team Philippines from <em>Physical Asia.</em></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/1/28/manny-pacquiao-reunites-with-physical-asia-teammates-mark-mugen-lara-liwanag-and-justin-coveney-0831" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>READ: Manny Pacquiao reunites with ‘Physical Asia’ teammates Mark Mugen, Lara Liwanag, and Justin Coveney</strong></a></div><p>This wasn&#x27;t the first time that the South Korean fitness influencer set foot in the country. He revealed that the Philippines was the first country he actually visited outside of South Korea back in 2017.</p><p>“I came to the Philippines that year for a CrossFit competition and I won second place. From that point, I thought to myself that I have to be one of the greats when it comes to CrossFit. I want to become the best CrossFit athlete in Korea,” he recalled.</p><p>Amotti, who previously opened up about his ankle injury he sustained years ago, shared how difficult it was for him to restart his fitness journey, but with the proper mindset and attitude, he was able to do so.</p><p>“Since I also knew to myself how passionate I am when it comes to working out–– how I love working out–– I just thought to myself, ‘let me continue this.’ Through that shift, I didn’t expect it, but I experienced a lot of good results, good performances with myself as well,” he shared.</p><p>“When I heard the news, of course I was petrified, but since I knew to myself this is what I’m best at, I continued persevering and I think that this brought me to the success that I’m experiencing today,” he added.</p><p>True enough, Amotti would recover from his ankle injury and eventually win the second season of <em>Physical: 100 </em>and compete with Team Korea at <em>Physical Asia,</em> where they would bag the championship as well.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/12/24/look-physical-asia-team-philippines-reunites-with-team-thailand-1535" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>LOOK: ‘Physical: Asia’ Team Philippines reunites with Team Thailand</strong></a></div><p>“The different experiences or the difficulties that I’ve experienced along the way, during those days what I just thought to myself was let me do what I can do. Even if I’m having difficulties or even if I’m recovering, I tell myself, since working out [and] exercising is the thing that I can do the best, in which I’m best at, let me just do whatever I can to still continue it while I was maintaining this mindset, good opportunities like <em>Physical 100 </em>and <em>Physical Asia</em> came and that was one of the reasons why I got to come to this point today,” he expressed.</p><p>When asked to give a memory he could recall as they were filming <em>Physical Asia</em>, the South Korean athlete shared how memorable the sack toss challenge was as he was against Philippines’ Justin Hernandez.</p><p>“I don’t remember it very well, but one of the most memorable challenges that I did was the sack toss challenge I did with Justin Hernandez… I really enjoyed that. I get to continuously communicate with the members of team Philippines,” he recalled.</p><p>As Amotti continues his fitness journey and inspires thousands of his fans around the world, he reminded the audience present at the summit to not limit themselves.</p><p>“Now, I just don’t do CrossFit, I also enjoy going running, weightlifting, and I’d like to tell all of you that you don’t have to limit yourself into one category only,” he said. </p>