PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan -- Inspired by her Paralympian father, Huxley Mangliwan hopes her recent feat at the 2024 Batang Pinoy Championships is the start of something big in her young taekwondo career.

The 16-year-old San Jose Del Monte Science High School student bagged her first gold medal in her second stint in this multisport grassroots competition after reigning supreme in the junior female flyweight division at the PALECO Court here.

It was a big improvement after failing to land a medal in her first stint.

“To my family, this gold is as much yours as it is mine,” Huxley said moments after her victory. “Thank you po for your endless love, sacrifice and unwavering support throughout this journey. Sa bawat pagod, hirap at challenges na dinaanan ko, kayo ang naging lakas ko.”

Huxley has been exposed to sports at a young age. After all, her father is three-time Paralympian wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan, a 2022 Hangzhou Asian Para Games champion and multiple ASEAN Para Games gold medalist

Jerrold said all his three kids are into sports, with Huxley starting her taekwondo career at age seven.

“Actually, summer clinic lang siya nag-start. In-enroll lang namin siya para may magawa sa summer,” said Jerrold, who competed in the 2016 Rio, 2021 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Paralympics.

“Then nagustuhan at nagtuluy-tuloy lang sila. Nag-start lang for fun, hanggang sa naging competitive,” he added.

Jerrold said he isn’t pushing all his three kids to reap as many sports achievements as they could and instead, just enjoy what they are doing.

“Sabi ko sa kanila na palaging makinig sa mga coaches nila kasi ang sports ay proseso,” he said.

“Every time na maglalaro, huwag yung result ang isipin kundi yung matututunan sa laro. Basta always give their best lang at palaging lumingon sa pinanggalingan,” he added.