Ariel Joseph Alegarbes, a para swimmer from Negros, won three medals, including a gold, at the Asian Youth Paralympic Games in Manama, Bahrain, over the weekend.

With a time of one minute and 1.95 seconds, the 17-year-old Filipino tanker from Silay City, Negros Occidental clinched a gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly S14 multiclass for males.

Alegarbes finished ahead of Japan’s Rei Kagose, who took silver with a time of 1:02.74, and Thailand’s W. In-Choo, who took bronze with a time of 1:06.93.

Moreover, Alegarbes won a silver medal in the SB14 100-meter breaststroke event, clocking a time of 1:17.75 seconds and came in second in the men’s 100-meter backstroke event.

Alegarbes’ gold medal in the Asian Youth Paralympic Games was the Philippines’ first. This was also the first medal for Team Philippines since a bronze medal in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in 2017.

PHOTO: SENERI ONAIROS VIA PHILSPADA