ILOILO CITY, Philippines – The sun had barely risen over the Ferdinand E. Marcos Stadium in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, but the tension was already electric. In lane five stood a focused 15-year-old, calm in body but racing with determination.
Nuche Veronica Ibit of the Aklan Swimming Team powered through the water during the swimming events at Palarong Pambansa 2025, breaking records in her wake.
Nicknamed “Amazing Nuche” by her teammates, she claimed four gold medals, two silvers, and shattered a national record in the 50-meter freestyle. Her team also broke the national record in the 4×50-meter freestyle relay.
But behind every stroke and medal was a deeper motivation: her family.
Her father, Nugen, a seaman and overseas Filipino worker, was able to attend her Palaro bid for the first time.
“Pwede mo ako pabaonan ng gold medal bago ako umalis? (Can you send me off with a gold medal before I leave?)” her father requested.
Nuche not only fulfilled her promise but exceeded it, winning gold in the 100-meter freestyle. In the 4×50-meter freestyle relay, she led off with a 27.57-second split, breaking the Palarong Pambansa 50-meter freestyle record previously held by Trixie Ortiguera.
Shortly after, she and her Aklan teammates set a new national relay record of 1:51:53.
She also claimed gold with her team in the 4×100 freestyle relay and silver in both the 200-meter freestyle and 50-meter butterfly.
“I gave it my one hundred ten percent,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino when asked what was on her mind before diving. “I followed everything Coach told me and prayed before I swam,” she added.
Building a champion
Before the records and medals, there was a little girl discovering the water for the first time.
Nuche’s love for swimming began when she was just 7. Her mother, Cheyenne, enrolled her in a basic swim class for fun and safety.
“She won the newbies competition,” her mother said. “From there, we knew this wasn’t just a pastime. It became something serious.”
Since then, she has trained relentlessly, making her mark in national and even international events. In 2019, she competed in the 11th Asian Age Group Championships held in New Clark City, representing the Philippines.
She is also no stranger to the Palarong Pambansa, where her team won gold and silver relays in 2023 and 2024.
For Palarong Pambansa 2025, preparation was key. “Matulog po nang maaga para maka-perform nang mabuti sa event ko (Sleep early so I can perform well in my event),” she shared.
Her coach, Manuel De Leon Jr., has been instrumental in developing her discipline and technique.
“Kailangan ng athlete sipag at tiwala sa sarili. Batyagan mo gid sa iya ang purgisido, ang baskog nga fighting spirit (An athlete needs hard work and self-confidence. You can really feel her drive and strong fighting spirit),” he said.
Coach De Leon trained her from her first swim lessons to the national stage. Part of their training was swimming 5-6 kilometers a day to build endurance.
His son, Jennuel Booh De Leon, also holds records in the secondary male category for the 50-meter freestyle and 50-meter backstroke. He had trained with Nuche before moving to pursue his studies at San Beda.
Beyond the finish line
After winning six medals and breaking records at just 15 years old, Nuche isn’t slowing down. She’s already preparing for the return to the pool.
“After Palaro, kailangan na mag-prepare para sa pasukan pero sabay rin po ang training. May mga try-outs pa at malalaking events (After Palaro, I need to prepare for the opening of classes along with training. There are still try-outs and big events),” she said.
Fresh off her gold medal win, she now trains for the upcoming ASEAN School Games, where she is expected to compete as a gold medalist in the Palarong Pambansa.
More is yet to come for Amazing Nuche, but her hope is simple: that support continues beyond the cheers, with better facilities, coaching, and lasting recognition, even after the spotlight fades.–Rappler.com
Felix Rey Van Olandria is a Rappler Mover based in Iloilo City.