How young world champ Anton Ignacio plunged into jet ski racing

Anton Ignacio is just 18 years old but he is now a world champion in his sport of jet ski racing.

Anton recently ruled the Pro Am Roundabout 1100 Stock 2024 IJSBA World Finals held in the United States and it took him less than a decade to become a champion.

Maybe it should not be surprising for someone with the sport in his blood, as his father also competed locally.

"We have a beach house in Mindoro. When he was I think, 12 or 11. And then we got a jet ski for old time's sake," Anton's father Robert recalled in a press conference.

"So, eh, siya, swimming-swimming. Sabi ko pa, 'Anton, you [want to] ride a jet ski?' Umiiyak, ayaw niya dahil baka bilisan ko raw. Sabi ko, hindi bagalan ko lang. So ikot kami. Tapos sabi niya, kung puwede niya ma-drive. Sige, dito ako sa likod. After niyan, nagustuhan. The following day, mag-isa na siyang umiikot sa harap ng bahay. After one week, nago-offshore siya sa kabilang island."

[So he was just swimming. And I asked him 'Anton, you want to ride a jet ski?' He cried, he didn't want to ride because I might speed it up. I said I'd go slow. So we went around. Then he asked if he could drive. I said okay, I'll stay at the back. After that, he took a liking to it. The following day, he was going out alone in front of the house. After one week, he was already going offshore on the next island.]

It was at that moment when Anton realized that he could try racing.

"Riding it for the very first time, I was super scared because I just wanted to swim in the pool. That week, when I was able to go to the island by myself, that's when I started to feel that maybe I could race," Anton said.

From then, he fell in love with the sport and won races locally and internationally.

"Aside from it being challenging, I enjoy every moment," Anton said about his races.

From just having fun to ruling the sport, Anton also hopes more people will also try jet ski racing.

"Best feeling when I crossed the finish line. it's a feeling that will forever stick with me because more than winning, I feel like I made a lot of people proud back home and I know I've been working hard for that," Anton said about his recent win.

"I want to spread the word and show people that this sport is worth trying because it's really fun and I've seen the younger generation getting good at it so i feel like there's hope that the sport will get bigger," he added.

LOOK: Anton Ignacio is meeting members of the press following his victory in the Pro Am Roundabout 1100 Stock 2024 IJSBA World Finals @gmasportsph pic.twitter.com/BnXsIvwLo2

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) October 24, 2024

—JMB, GMA Integrated News