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Arianne Cerdena: The 1st Filipina to taste Olympic glory

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Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://data-sports.abs-cbn.com/dev/articles/1471003506_arianne-cerdena.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Arianne Cerdena won Olympic gold in Bowling during the 1988 Olympics. Photo courtesy of Steve Angeles</div></figcaption></figure></div>Before weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz&#x27;s silver medal finish at the Rio Olympics, there was bowler Arianne Cerdena, the only Filipino to bring home an Olympic gold medal.But Cerdena&#x27;s victory in the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul Korea was not included in the medal tally because bowling was included as a demonstration sport.“I was in the national team since 1981. That&#x27;s the goal to represent your country and winning a medal for your country is wow, is the ultimate prize,” said Cerdena. But for the history making Olympian, her strikes were just as golden. “A gold is still a gold. The practices that I did was the same to just get into the Olympics. Just to be representing the Philippines in the Olympics, I had to go so many eliminations. I went it Hong Kong I went to Florida then went to Korea,” she said.Cerdena went on to have a successful international career but she left the sport in 2001 after a final gold medal performance in the SEA Games.“My child was already 16 then, and I said I think it&#x27;s time to throw in the towel and go with my husband,” she said. “The sacrifices that we do, I see my husband a few months out of the year. I really love the sport.”She eventually migrated to Los Angeles in 2002 where she studied nursing.After a quick bout with ovarian cancer in 2004 she worked her way to becoming a registered nurse, a job she&#x27;s held for the past five years. “When I came here all I knew to do was bowl. I said what will I do here? I went back to school and the first thing that came to my mind was go to nursing,” said Cerdena.But Cerdena has stayed in her lane. Even though she hasn&#x27;t picked up a ball in 15 years, everything she&#x27;s done has been influenced by her ability to knock down the pins. “Backbone ko maybe is the sport. Bowling, it made me confident it provided me the patience, confidence so when I moved on to a different field, it was still there. Nan dun parin yung eagerness to learn,” said Cerdena.She&#x27;s kept watch of this year&#x27;s summer games and after nearly 30 years another Filipina has finally made it to the Olympic podium.“I&#x27;ve been there, I know how she feels. I would like to tell her to savor everything. It&#x27;s priceless. Winning a medal in the Olympics where it&#x27;s the creme of all tournaments, winning a medal, oh my God. It&#x27;s something,” she said.While the proud Filipina athlete is happily retired in the US, she still keeps in touch with her bowling teammates and other fellow Olympians, often meeting them during their US visits and competitions and remaining open to the possibility of coaching some day. For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/" target="_blank">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Before weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz's silver medal finish at the Rio Olympics, there was bowler Arianne Cerdena, the only Filipino to bring home an Olympic gold medal.

Before weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz's silver medal finish at the Rio Olympics, there was bowler Arianne Cerdena, the only Filipino to bring home an Olympic gold medal.

Arianne Cerdena: The 1st Filipina to taste Olympic glory

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Arianne Cerdena: The 1st Filipina to taste Olympic glory

Steve Angeles,

ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

Published Aug 13, 2016 10:38 PM PHT

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Updated Aug 14, 2016 02:05 AM PHT

Read More:

Arianne Cerdena

Hidilyn Diaz

Bowling

Rio Olympics

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