CHONBURI, Thailand—John Derick Farr delivered the Philippines’ first medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, earning bronze in the mountain bike men’s downhill event at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo here on Wednesday, December 10.
Ranked third in the seeding run the day prior, the 29-year-old pride of Las Piñas kept his spot with a time of 2 minutes and 43.676 seconds as he edged teammate Simon Peter Servillon for the last podium seat.
Servillon, who debuted in the SEA Games at 20 years old, was just a couple of seconds slower, crossing the finish line at 2:45.866.
Thailand’s Methasit Boonsane defended his crown from the 2021 Vietnam edition with 2:37.856 as he narrowly beat out Indonesia’s Rendy Varera Sanjaya (2:38.714) for the gold.
“‘Yung performance ko kanina, I could say na nag-improve po kahit papaano kasi naibaba ko po ‘yung time ko yesterday ng 2:48 to 2:43. So malaking achievement din po siya para sa akin and I would say na hard-earned medal po talaga ‘yung nakuha ko,” said Farr.
The bronze finish allowed Farr to continue his SEA Games medal streak after he ruled the event at home soil in 2019 and bagged bronze in Vietnam.
Downhill events were not held in 2023 in Cambodia.
“Sobrang happy ako sa performance ko every SEA Games. Sobrang happy ako dahil nakakadagdag ako sa medal tally sa Philippines. Proud po ako, proud po ako sa sarili ko and sa team po,” said Farr.
In women’s action, 2019 champion Lea Denise Belgira missed out on the podium as she placed fourth with 3:22.478.
Thailand secured a 1-3 finish courtesy of gold winner Vipavee Deekaballes (3:03.289) and bronze medalist Kanokrat Ritthidet (3:06.778), while Indonesia’s Riska Amelia Agustina (3:04.874) clinched silver.
Belgira said she struggled to get ample practice time due to multiple mechanical problems in the lead-up to the final.
“Hindi po pinalad. Siguro ‘yung kulang ko lang po is ‘yung training ko po,” said Belgira. “Nakuha lang po natin is fourth. ‘Yung sa finish line, kanina ko lang din po nagamay ‘yung lahat ng mga jumps po.”
