Before winning SEA Games gold, Daniela dela Pisa won against cancer

Daniela in action at the SEA Games.

Daniela dela Pisa may only be 16 years old, but she has already experienced a lot in life.

She struck Southeast Asian Games gold in the hoop event of the rhythmic gymnastics competition at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum Saturday.

Dela Pisa scored 17.750 in her routine, besting Malaysia's Amzan Izzah (16.500) and Kwan Amy Dict Weg (15.900), who claimed silver and bronze, respectively.

Aside from the gold, she also bagged two bronze medals from the ball and clubs category.

FULL COVERAGE: 30th Southeast Asian Games on GMA News Online

According to Ivan Mayrina's report on "24 Oras" on Monday, gymnastics is not new to Daniela since her grandmother and mother were once gymnasts as well.

But Daniela's decorated gymnastics career almost never happened as she was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer at the age of 4.

With that, she immediately stopped practicing the sport.

"'Pag cancer, mahirap isipin kasi bata pa siya. Kung kaya ba niya 'yong mga treatment na binibigay? Kaya naisip naming palakihin at pagalingin na lang namin siya sa sakit niya," Daniela's mother Darlene said.

But after a few months of treatment, Daniela was declared cancer-free.

And from that moment on, Daniela eventually became the athlete she is now.

"Focus palagi sa training, pray always kay God and believe in yourself. 'Wag susuko tapos 'yong mga negative 'di dapat iisipin," she said.

Aside from the SEA Games, Daniela also won in the Palarong Pambansa artistic gymnastics under-10 category in 2014.

She was also hailed the Most Outstanding Athlete in the National Milo Olympics in 2013 and 2014. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/JST, GMA News