By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Negros Occidental-based gymnasts made their presence felt during the Palarong Pambansa 2023 held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium recently.
Matthea Given Efenio emerged with the most medals among Western Visayas gymnasts after winning one gold, two silvers and one bronze medal in the week-long competition.
Efenio won her gold medal in the secondary girls A.F. hoop event, while her bronze medal was in the secondary girls individual all-around event.
The Bacolod City-native gymnast also won a silver in the ball event and in the team event with Bianca Isabelle Celis and Aklanon Leighanne Jizmundo.
Meanwhile, Celis clinched a gold medal in the secondary girls ribbon event while Angel Villaruz took home a silver medal in the team event.
Negrense Reaiah Patricia Tan clinched the other gold medal for the Region 6 delegation in the elementary girls artistic gymnastics single bar events.
Negrenses Althea Grace Crisostomo, Nicola Rosatasi and Dave Ofquila clinched a silver in the elementary aero trio, while Aklanon Yvainne Shanon Briones won a silver in elementary girls A.F. freehand.
Briones, Capiz’s Sophia Estelle Tolentino and Negros Occidental’s Precious Angel Villaruz won a bronze medal in elementary girls rhythmic gymnastics.
Negrense Gavhien Eauhaan Cervantes delivered the other bronze medal for the Western Visayas in the secondary boys artistic gymnastics horizontal bar event.
Serving as coaches for the Western Visayas gymnastics delegation are Lady Liza Deles and Chatty Inson in the elementary division and Jenny Claro in the secondary division./ASC, WDJ