Young gymnast Ivan Cruz gets emotional after clinching maiden SEA Games gold medal

PHNOM PENH — Emotions were pouring when Ivan Cruz clinched the gold medal in the men's floor exercise apparatus finals in the 32nd SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old Cruz amassed 13.850 points to dominate the field and deliver the another gold for the country in the biennial meet. But Cruz said the path towards SEA Games glory was far from easy.

Cruz is the oldest of seven siblings, sharing they had to make ends meet as his mother works in a sari-sari store while his father earns a living in pedicab driving. He added that his siblings had to stop attending school due to their financial situation.

But as he starts making his own name in gymnastics, Cruz, a second cousin to Carlos Yulo, said he can now help his family.

Earlier Ivan Cruz, who cops the gold in floor exercise, became emotional as he talks about the challenges he had to face en route to SEAG podium finish @gmasportsph #SEAGames2023 pic.twitter.com/itSjrLRjFL

— Bea Micaller (@beamicallerrr) May 9, 2023

"Sobrang hirap po kasi ng buhay then ang daming pinagdaanan sa Pilipinas. Hindi ko akalain na maabot ko 'to," an emotional Cruz told Philippine media at the National Olympic Stadium.

"Financially po kasi talaga 'yung problema ko po e, panganay po kasi ako sa amin tapos 'yung mga kapatid ko hindi na po nakapag-aral. Sobrang saya lang po sa pakiramdam na ngayon, kaya ko na silang buhayin."

("Life is so hard and we're going through so much in the Philippines. I never thought I would reach this... My problems are mostly financial, I'm the oldest son and my siblings were not able to continue their studies. I'm just felling so happyu now, I can finally support them.")

Cruz is among the Filipino gymnasts who led a medal haul for the Philippines on Tuesday, May 9, as Carlos Yulo earned gold and silver in parallel bars and rings, respectively, while Juancho Miguel Besana also finished with gold in vault.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News