Gabriel Moreno became the first-ever Filipino to win an Olympic Gold Medal after the young Filipino archer won the elusive gold medal in the mixed event of archery in the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games (YOG) on Sunday, August 24, 2014.
The 16-year-old Filipino archer teamed up with Chinese archer Li Jiaman and defeated Cynthia Freywald of Germany and Mohamad Zolkepili of Malaysia for a total score of 113-105.
The young Filipino archer Gabriel Moreno won the gold medal which is the first for the Philippines. The last time the Philippines won an Olympic Medal was way back the 1996 Atlanta Olympics featuring Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco garnering the second silver medal of the country in the Olympics.
According to Gabriel Moreno he was hopeful for a gold medal finish given the effort he has put on his training before the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games. Gabriel Moreno was also the flag carrier of the Philippines during the opening ceremony of the Youth Olympic Games in China.
Meanwhile fellow Filipino archer Bianca Gotuaco was eliminated in the elimination round of the Women’s Individual Event on Saturday, August 23. She also competed in the mixed event with Prennoy Murong from Bangladesh but got eliminated on Friday, August 22, 2014.
LUIS is the FIRST FILIPINO to WIN an “OFFICIAL” OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL. but he is not the first to win an OLYMPIC GOLD
But the First Filipino to win an OLYMPIC GOLD is ARIANNE CERDENA for WOMEN’s BOWLING at the 1988 SEOUL SUMMER OLYMPICS. However, BOWLING was only a demonstration sport and therefore the medals were not included in the official medal tally.