Justin Macario flaunted calm and composure as he delivered the country’s first gold medal in the men’s freestyle poomsae of the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand on Wednesday, December 10.

But the taekwondo jin shared that he actually had to overcome nerves since it’s his first time competing in an individual event after playing for a team in the past.

“Nong una pong in-announce ‘yung line-up namin, kinabahan po ako kasi hindi ako sanay sa SEA Games [individual]. Puro team po ‘yung mga past SEA Games ko po,” Macario told GMA Integrated News, a part of Philippine Olympic Committee Media.

“And grinab ko po itong opportunity na ‘to para maglaro and i-represent po ‘yung country po.”

That’s why being the first gold medalist for the Philippines in the ongoing biennial meet in Thailand came as a surprise for the young athlete, who had experience competing in other high-profile events like the World Championship and Asian Championship.

“Nagulat din po ako na ako po ‘yung unang [nakasungkit ng] gold ng Pilipinas po. And sobrang saya po dahil isang karangalan pong makauwi ng ginto for the country po,” he added.

Macario ruled the event by scoring 8.200, edging Atchariya Koedkaew of host Thailand, who snagged the silver.

Ken Haw Chin of Malaysia and Darren Yap of Singapore, meanwhile, both settled for bronze. (GMA Integrated News)