He may have good looks that make people turn their heads whenever he passes by, but this Filipino-British student-athlete from the northern part of the country has more to offer than his boy-next-door image.
Dyrham “Ham” Raga Palfrey is a future swimming superstar. He represented the National University in the UAAP seasons 79 and 80 and won two bronze medals. He won in the Preliminaries Boys 13-17 200-Meter Individual Medley clocking his best 2:26:91, and in the 200-Meter Medley Relay with teammates Jay Cabulit, Dan Leyba, and Jericho Salas.
Ham, who is now part of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) swimming team, was born on Jan. 21, 2000 to David Andrew Palfrey and Aurora Bautista Raga in San Carlos, Pangasinan. He has two younger twin siblings named Anthony and Angela.
The 5-foot-10 head-turner just finished grade 10 at Saint Columban’s College. He broke the internet when his photo got featured in GMA news during the Palarong Pambansa 2016 held in Albay. Tagged as “Pambansang Cutie,” he finished with a silver medal in the annual national sports event.
“I want to thank whoever posted my photos online, because of that I was recognized in public news. I feel great being one of the Palarong Pambansa cuties,” he shares.
“Swimming helps me maintain a healthy body,” says Ham who started swimming at the age of six. He also plays basketball, chess, and badminton.
His competition in 2012 held in Dagupan Pangasinan was his most unforgettable game. He and his team won gold medals in their relay. He was barely 12 years old during that time.
Ham lists American Olympian Michael Phelps as his idol and his main goal as an athlete is to join international swimming competitions like SEA Games and the Olympic.
On the side, Ham does product endorsements. He’s one of the brand ambassadors of Blackwater fragrance, Turbo swimwear, and David’s Salon. He also modeled for Elite Avenue Magazine.