NCR’s Titus Sia, Sophia Rose Garra accomplish double sweep in Palaro swimming

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The National Capital Region successfully defends its Palarong Pambansa swimming crown as the two young tankers earn seven gold medals each

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines –Titus Sia and Sophia Rose Garra pulled off an extraordinary double sweep – as both took home the golds in all their respective events in the swimming competition of the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte.

The two elementary-level tankers snagging gold medals in all of the seven categories they competed in contributed tremendously in the National Capital Region’s keeping a tight hold on its championship title and its overall medal haul in the national games.

From single bronze medal to full-fledged golden boy

When Sia made his Palaro debut in last year’s Cebu edition, he only took home a lone bronze medal. In the span of just a year, he and his coach Miguel Ibazeta worked to transform his skills — training twice a day in the months leading up to the 2025 Palaro.

The outcome? Seven gold medals with three records broken to boot.

“Last year, when I got bronze, it gave me the motivation to continue swimming. I continued swimming through numerous invitationals, the SEA age round, and now [Palaro],” 12-year-old Sia said.

In Ilocos Norte, the Xavier School San Juan City student earned gold medals in 200m freestyle (2 minutes, 7.86 seconds), 100m backstroke (1 minute, 5.44 seconds), 4×50 medley relay (2 minutes, 6.83 seconds), 100m freestyle (59.33 seconds), 400m freestyle (4 minutes, 31.39 seconds), 50m backstroke (30.82 seconds), and the 4x50m freestyle relay (1 minute, 53.85 seconds).

He set new records in the 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke, and the 400m freestyle.

In the 200m freestyle, Sia reset the record of Rafael Barreto, who clocked 2 minutes and 8.12 seconds in 2013.

Meanwhile, in the 400m freestyle, Sia smashed the 16-year mark of Omar Dacera, of 4 minutes and 35.42 seconds.

In the 100m backstroke, the young tanker shattered a 10-year-old record set by Martin Isaak Seth, who finished in 1 minute and 6.38 seconds. Sia registered a time of 1 minute and 5.44 seconds.

“Performance-wise, of course [I’m] very proud. We both worked hard for this. We sacrificed a lot. Moving forward, if he keeps the focus in, he continues to do what is asked of him, I think he’ll go farther,” Ibazeta told Rappler in a mix of English and Filipino.

Consistent standout

Garra, meanwhile, headed into the 2025 Palaro as the Most Outstanding Swimmer in last year’s edition.

Back then, the De Le Salle Araneta University student set four new records and clinched five golds and two silvers. She set new best times in the 50m backstroke, 100m backstroke, 200m medley relay, and the 400m medley relay.

But the 12-year-old didn’t feel any pressure to replicate her strong showing this time around.

“‘Di ko naman po pinepressure sarili ko. Sinasabi po ng coach ko na no pressure po, at mag-enjoy lang po ako,” Garra told Rappler.

(I don’t pressure myself. My coach always says no pressure, and that I should just enjoy.)

Even then, Garra outperformed herself this year, bagging gold medals in seven events – the 200m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 4×50 medley relay, 200m individual medley, 100m freestyle, 4x50m freestyle relay, and the 50m freestyle.

Garra reset her own record in the 100m backstroke, finishing at 1 minute and 7.61 seconds to beat her previous personal best of 1 minute and 8.50 seconds.

In the 200m individual medley, she posted a time of 2 minutes and 31.41 seconds, shattering the record of 2 minutes and 33.12 seconds held by Michaela Jasmine Mojdeh since 2018.

Garra and Sia are tied for the most bemedalled athletes in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte. – Rappler.com