John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

Team Philippines' Kimberly Custodio. Photo from Philippine Sports Commission

Article (news)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765523376081custudio.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Team Philippines&#x27; Kimberly Custodio. <em>Photo from Philippine Sports Commission</em></span></span></span></div><p>BANGKOK -- Kimberly Custodio may already be a three-time JJIF world champion, but she could not hold back her tears after striking gold in her first-ever Southeast Asian Games.</p><p>Custodio has dedicated her life to jiu-jitsu, focusing on the sport for the past 11 years.</p><p>Her victory was not just for herself, but for a bigger purpose related to the sport.</p><p>Before the regional showcase, Custodio told ABS-CBN News she was coming in without any expectations aside from doing her best in her debut.</p><p>But having world championship DNA lit the fire inside her, as she exerted dominance in the three matches on the way to the gold medal round.</p><p>In the final, Custodio was able to find an opening and gain three crucial points that ultimately sealed her the victory over the hometown bet.</p><p>&quot;Sobrang nakakatuwa kasi first time ko mag-move up ng weight division. Sabi ko nga sa ’yo hindi ako nag-expect manalo. Pero sa awa ng Diyos at hard work ng coaches ko at teammates ko, nagbunga din,&quot; she told POC Media after her win.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/12/11/sea-games-custodio-roxas-bag-golds-as-jiu-jitsu-delivers-six-medals-1943"><strong>READ: SEA Games: Custodio, Roxas bag golds as jiu-jitsu delivers six medals</strong></a></div><p>Custodio was all smiles and jumping after her win, taking in the cheers from the very energetic Filipino crowd in attendance at the Royal Thai Air Force Academy.</p><p>&quot;Grabe &#x27;yung support ng mga Pilipino dito. Sobrang happy kasi nagbunga lahat ng paghihirap namin ng coaches ko, ng mga teammates ko saka ng mga taong nagtitiwala sa akin,&quot; she said.</p><p>Custodio&#x27;s tears flowed when she went up the podium, turning more emotional when the Philippine national anthem played in the stadium.</p><p>At 38, Custodio still has a lot she wants to accomplish in her caree,r including winning the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games and Asian Games, among others.</p><p>But her highest goal is not for personal gain, but for the next generation of Filipino jiu-jitsu athletes.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung pinaka-ultimate goal ko talaga is &#x27;yung mga students ko makarating sa narating ko ngayon at ma-feel nila &#x27;yung nafi-feel kong joy ngayon. So &#x27;yun talaga ultimate goal ko, pagalingin students ko at sino man &#x27;yung gustong gumaling sa jiu-jitsu,&quot; Custodio said.</p><p>As the jiu-jitsu team delivered two gold medals for the country in the SEA Games, she believes this shows the huge potential and need for support for the sport.</p><p>The jiu-jitsu team so far has two gold medals, one silver, and five bronze medals in the regional showcase.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2vnrwCn1T8w??si=tsmajdJMyosmY-DS&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Kimberly Custodio may already be a three-time JJIF World Champion, but she could not hold back her tears after striking gold in her first-ever Southeast Asian Games. #2025SEAGames </p>

Kimberly Custodio may already be a three-time JJIF World Champion, but she could not hold back her tears after striking gold in her first-ever Southeast Asian Games. #2025SEAGames

Kimberly Custodio on winning her first SEA Games gold: 'Nagbunga lahat'

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Kimberly Custodio on winning her first SEA Games gold: 'Nagbunga lahat'

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 12, 2025 03:36 PM PHT

Read More:

abssports

SEA Games

Southeast Asian Games

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Kimberly Custodio

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