From golf greens to gymnastic mats, from volleyball courts to track and field stadiums, Filipino athletes are making waves in international sports like never before.

The recent historic victory of JJ Spaun (full name John Michael Spaun, Jr.) in the US Open Golf Championship has made the Filipino sporting community jubilant.

According to media sources, his father, John Michael Spaun Sr., is an American of European origin, and his mother, Dollie (née Rigor), is of Filipino and Mexican descent. His mother's paternal grandparents, now based in California, hail from Victoria, Tarlac, and speak Ilocano.

His success is reminiscent of past victories by fellow Fil-Japanese golfer Yuka Saso, who has brought home the US Women’s Open crown twice — in 2021 and 2024 — and Allisen Corpuz, who captured the same title in 2023. Both women brought honor to the Philippines, which they have proudly acknowledged as part of their heritage.

In the junior circuit, rising star Rianne Malixi has shown promise of a bright future. In 2024, she won both the US Girls’ Junior and the US Women’s Amateur in the same year, becoming only the second athlete to accomplish this twin triumphs.

Filipino-American Rico Hoey is also steadily carving a name for himself in the competitive world of professional golf. His recent performances on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA circuit show that he is a serious contender and a potential future champion.

Ahead of these current stars, it was Filipino golf icon Frankie Miñoza, who scored groundbreaking wins in the Asian and Japan tours during the late 1980s and ‘90s laid the foundation for today’s generation of Filipino golf champions. He won three times on the Asian Golf Circuit and topped the tour’s Order of Merit in 1990. In 1998, Miñoza was featured in the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

Beyond the fairways, in gymnastics, Olympic double gold medalist Carlos Yulo continues to shine. In the recent Asian Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships held in Jecheon, South Korea, Yulo bagged a gold and a bronze medal while his brother Eldrew won a silver medal.

Known for his near-flawless execution and quiet intensity, Yulo exemplifies the world-class discipline and preparation required to excel on the global stage. His journey from a modest training ground in Manila to the elite training halls of Japan is a story of sacrifice, vision, and perseverance.

In athletics, Ernest John (EJ) Obiena, the country’s pole vault sensation and Olympic finalist, has maintained a strong presence in the European circuit. Obiena currently holds the Asian record with his clearance of 6.00 meters at the 2023 World Athletics Championship where he won the silver medal. In the recent Asian Athletic Championship, he was the gold medalist by clearing 5.77 meters.

Alexandra ‘Alex’ Eala’s semifinal finish in the 2025 Miami Open catapulted her into a career-high number 69 world ranking and earned her a ticket to the French Open. Eala won her first junior singles title at the 2023 US Open, earning the distinction of being the first Filipino player to win a junior Grand Slam singles title. She is also the first Filipina to defeat multiple top-5 players and Grand Slam champions, including Iga Swiatek, a former world number one player.

Meanwhile, the Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball team captured the hearts of millions when they clinched a silver medal in the recent Asian Volleyball Conference held in Hanoi. The team’s run was highlighted by grit, unity, and unshakable determination against formidable regional powerhouses.

These athletes have carried the nation’s hopes on their shoulders and proven that Filipino excellence can compete with—and triumph over—the world’s best. Many have overcome personal and financial hardships, trained under rigorous conditions, and made career decisions that involved relocating to foreign lands for better training and coaching.

As we cheer them on toward the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, let their success stories challenge the Philippine Sports Commission and sports institutions to provide better facilities, coaching, and incentives so that more young Filipinos can dream big and aim high.

These athletes have shown us that with hard work and determination, Filipinos can soar to world-class greatness.