Boholano pride Rian Marco Adiong-Tirol, a decorated swimmer and an alumnus of the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) and the University of Bohol Victoriano B. Tirol Advance Learning Center (VDTALC), has secured his place in the prestigious 2024 World Aquatics Swimming Cup Series, representing Philippines on the global stage. Tirol also serves as the current Sports Ambassador for swimming, an appointment by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Tirol’s qualification came after stellar performance in 50m and 100m breaststroke events, where he clocked an impressive 27.69 seconds in the 50m and 1:00.91in the 100m during the Philippine Aquatics National Trials held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila last August 20-23, 2024. The young Boholano swimmer dominated both events, however, for ranking purposes, only his highest-scoring event is counted. In the 100m breaststroke, Tirol earned a 747 World Aquatics points, surpassing his 731 points in the 50m breaststroke. He has now secured a spot among the top 16 qualifiers for the World Aquatic Series, which requires a minimum of 650 points to qualify.
Beyond his athletic excellence, Tirol was a Dean’s Lister at Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) College, where he also graduated from Senior High School at the same institution. He served as a two-time team captain of the Ateneo FAST Swimming Team, and was the former captain of the VDTALC Swimming Team. Known across campus, Mico is currently pursuing a master’s degree at Ateneo de Manila University.
The World Series will kick off with Series 1 in Shanghai, China, from October 18-20, 2024, followed by Series 2 in Incheon, South Korea, from October 24-26, and Series 3 in Singapore from October 31 to November 2. The series will culminate in the Championships, set to take place from December 10-15, 2025, in Budapest, Hungary.
Held biennially, the World Aquatic Series gathers the world’s elite swimmers, making it a premiere stage for talent and excellence in the sport. (L.A.Boncales)