Hurdling life’s obstacles: Lessons from track and field legend Elma Muros

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Over a decade since she retired in 2002, Elma Muros-Posadas’ reputation remains cemented as one of the best track and field athletes the Philippines produced. At the height of her career, she’s won over 200 medals, including 15 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games medals (a record number tied with Jennifer Tin Lay of Myanmar), two bronze medals at the Asian Games, and she represented the Philippines twice in the Olympics

Though the long jump was Elma’s specialty, she continues to shine after leaving the track. Here are highlights from the 47-year-old’s life and career, as told to GMA-7’s “Tunay na Buhay.”

Since her retirement, Elma has been devoting her energy to coaching at an international school based in Laguna. During her interview, the 47-year-old even helped the “Tunay na Buhay” crew set up the hurdles to be used in the shoot. “May maitutulong ba ako?” she asked the crew. “Okay lang, ako na lang, baka sumakit pa likod niyo."

“Kailangang ‘yung sipag ko, dodoblehin ko”
Elma’s career began in her teens, when she joined athletic contests at her school in the province of Romblon. She was discovered by a sports development program called Gintong Alay after she swept the competition. “Pinadala kami sa Baguio,” Elma recalled. “Bale, mapipili ka para sa national team.”

This changed her life. “Ang sarap ng feeling na maging bahagi ng Gintong Alay kasi nagre-represent ka ng Pilipinas,” she said. “Nagkakaroon ka ng allowance, ng mga supplies katulad ng jogging pants at shorts, tapos may maleta pa para sa gamit mo.”

Elma joined her first Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 1981, at the age of 14. “[Para sa mga] ginagawa ng magulang ko, pati sa binigay sa aking buhay na ito, kailangang ‘yung sipag ko, dodoblehin ko.”
 
“Gusto kong tapusin ‘yung dapat kong tapusin”
“She was a tremendous athlete,” recalled sports commentator Ronnie Nathanielsz. “Sobrang galing niya, lalu na sa long jump at sprint. Natural gift si Elma, and she also worked very hard.”

It was never an easy path. While Elma didn’t take home an individual medal during her first SEA Games showing, she and her teammates took home the silver medal in the 4x100 meter relay. In the years that followed, Elma took home several gold medals.

“Determinado ako, at ayoko rin ng mandaraya. Gusto kong tapusin ‘yung dapat kong tapusin,” she told host Rhea Santos. “Kahit hirap na ako, hindi ako magrereklamo.

“Ang habol ko, ‘yung experience na makita ‘yung magagaling”
Elma represented the Philippines in two summer Olympic games: Los Angeles in 1986, and Atlanta in 1984.

Elma’s eyes still widen when talking about those times. “Napakasaya, parang hindi ako makapaniwala,” she said. “Parang, ‘totoo na ba ito, Elma?’” While she didn’t make a podium finish – much like our recent figure skating Olympian, Michael Christian Martinez – Elma looks back on it with a smile.

“Alam ko naman na hindi ako mananalo, pero [ang habol ko] ‘yung experience na makikita ko ‘yung mga magagaling at saka matututo ako,” she said.

“I-try mo lang. Wala namang mawawala sa ’yo.”
In 1997, the Philippine Sports Commission and the SEA Games recognized Elma for her contributions in the sport of long jump and track and field. She received two titles: Iron Woman of the Philippines, and Iron Woman of Southeast Asia.

This was also the year that Elma took home the medal in a heptathlon, a seven-event competition that included 100-meter hurdles and the javelin throw. “Parang na-challenge kami kasi walang nagpa-participate [sa heptathlon],” she said. “‘Yung coach ko at ‘yung husband ko, sinasabi nilang ‘kaya mo ‘to, nagpakahirap ka na naman eh. Para naman ito sa bansa.’”

Ito took Elma, who would later be dubbed “the heptathlon queen,” out of her comfort zone and to new heights. Her takeaway from this: “I-try mo lang, wala namang mawawala sa ’yo eh."

After her “happy retirement” in 2002, some of Elma’s records have yet to be broken among Filipino athletes. These include her time of 57.57 seconds in 400-meter hurdles, logged in Singapore; and 5,346 points in the 1998 Asian Games heptathlon in Bangkok.

“Mayroon akong ini-sacrifice”
One thing you might not know about Elma: While the newspapers were busy printing stories about her medals, she secretly married fellow athlete George “Jojo” Posadas in 1995.

“Parang God’s gift si Elma sa akin,” said Jojo. “Nang makilala ko siya, alam ko nang siya ang babaeng pakakasalan ko. Malaking bagay na nagkakaintindihan kami tungkol sa mga bagay na kasama sa pagiging atleta, lalo na sa track and field.”

“Noong nagkapamilya ako, mayroon akong ini-sacrifice. Katulad noong nagbuntis ako, nag-off ako,” Elma said. Because of their decision to keep her marriage private, the press began printing a new story: Where was Elma Muros?

Elma made her big comeback in 1993, proving it was possible to have a successful career and a happy family. “She’s a very energetic mom,” said her son George Jr. “She’s funny sometimes… She’s helping people. She’s always trying her best.”

What if her two kids want a career in sports? Elma said she’ll support them in any field they choose: “May kanya-kanyang buhay sila. Nariyan ang respeto ko sa kanila.”

“Tumanda lang ako, pero ito pa rin buhay ko”
Several years after her retirement, Elma entered a new field: television. She was one of the castaways on “Survivor Philippines: Celebrity Showdown,” which aired on GMA-7.

“Noong nakita ko siya, natakot ako,” said fellow contestant and actress Aubrey Miles. “Astig ‘yung dating! Pero may smile kapag nagkukuwento siya. Ang lalim ng pinanggagalingan niya… hindi ‘yung malalim na malungkot pero ‘yung may matututunan ka. Inspirational siya.”

The show was a new hurdle for Elma to cross. “Ang hirap. Ang mga lamok doon, walang tulugan. Pagod, init, ulan… tapos iisang panty lang! Pero okay lang, naka-survive,” she laughs.

In 2011, she was cast in the film “Thelma,” an indie film based on some of Elma’s personal experiences as an athlete. She played the part of Rose, coach to the titular character played by Maja Salvador. “Ang hirap din [umarte]. Iba pa rin talaga ang sports. Pero okay na rin, kasi nakatulong ito sa aking pamilya,” she said.

These days, Elma is proud of her job as a coach to different schools and universities. “Hindi ako talaga nawala [sa sports],” she said. “Tumanda lang ako, pero ito pa rin buhay ko.”

“Lumalaban ako eh. Madapa man ako, babangon ako.”
Elma is the sixth of nine children, and she lived a very simple life growing up. Her mother worked in the copra industry and sold clothes at an ukay-ukay; their family struggled to make ends meet. Because of financial difficulties, Elma was not able to finish college.

“‘Yun nga ang nag-motivate sa akin – ‘yung hirap ng buhay na nakikita ko sa nanay at tatay ko. Kailangan kong galingan para mabawasan ang gastos sa bahay,” Elma said. “[Tuwing nasasaktan ako], lumalaban ako eh. Madapa man ako, babangon ako. Hindi ko in-expect...ang daming nabago sa buhay ko.”

In spite of all her success, Elma’s goal remains simple. “Gusto ko ‘yung makapagtapos ang mga anak ko at kami at magkasama pa kami nang matagal,” she said. “‘Yung karangyaan, wala iyon. Basta naisusukli mo ang ibinigay sa iyo, maging kuntento ka na. May nakakain ka, may nabibigay ka na tulong sa pamamagitan ng talent, may napapaligaya ka sa ginagawa mo… masaya na ako.” — Cristina Tantengco/CM, GMA News