MANILA, Philippines – In jet ski, a sport where strength, control, and sheer hard work are paramount for success, two young sisters have been carrying the Philippine cudgels for international glory.
Hailing from General Santos City, Kristine and Kayla Mercado showed Filipinas can hang in the jet ski scene, proving their wares in the Water Jet World Grand Prix last December in Pattaya, Thailand.
Kristine was the first Filipina to win the prestigious Women’s Runabout 1100 Stock (World Series) title, gaining the tag as a triple crown champion.
“What keeps me going is my passion for the sport…because I want to do this,” said the 23-year-old.
Still a student at St. Paul University in Iloilo, Kristine shared she had to travel from her school to Manila and then to Subic every weekend just to train for the sport.
Kristine has been competing on the international stage for over four years now, carving a name for herself in what is mainly perceived as a male-dominated sport.
“I’ve always wanted to prove my worth on the international stage,” she said. “For many years, it was always just the USA, Thailand, and other European countries. I want to be the one that represents the Philippines in this stage.”
When they were still in the novice categories, the sisters competed against boys their age, going toe-to-toe with them before moving up to the women’s category.
For Kristine, the experience helped her and Kayla improve.
“There were always motivations back then, especially against guys. I think it helped us hone our competitive spirit and [maintain] the attitude we have,” Kristine said.
On top of the triple crown, Kristine also won fourth overall in the Women’s Runabout 1100 Stock (World Cup) category.
On the other hand, Kayla, who’s just a year younger at 22, finished second overall in the Women’s Runabout 1100 Stock (World Series) and sixth overall in the Women’s Runabout 1100 Stock (World Cup).
Kayla, who is a medical technology student at the National University in Mall of Asia, relishes the opportunity to share the stage with her sister, especially in international tournaments where they can both travel and share moments together.
“It’s really something that is very special to me,” Kayla said about her accomplishments alongside Kristine.
Just like her older sister, Kayla also travels from Manila to Subic weekly to train with her team, alongside some of the best jet ski riders in the country.
Kayla said she is proud of what her sister achieved as they continue to make their mark in the sport for the Philippines.
“I’m so proud and always honored in representing the Philippines, and of course, our family,” she said.
For their coach BJ Ang, a Southeast Asian Games medalist, the sisters’ participation bolsters the country’s representation in the international stage.
“This by far is the best team in the history of Philippine (jet ski) racing,” he said. “With dedication and perseverance in knowing and studying well about the technology, we would be able to jump anywhere we want to reach.”
“I’m very confident that the future will be very nice for them. And I think, they’re slowly getting there.” – Rappler.com