Gold Medalist Margielyn Didal Will Give P6-Million Incentive to Mom

Nineteen-year old Cebuana Margielyn Didal cannot wait to come home to Manila to see her family. The skateboard champion, who won for the Philippines its fourth gold medal in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday, has been away for a while now to undergo extensive training, and all that sacrifice has paid off.

Margielyn's amazing performance earned her a top score of 30.4. Second place went to Japan's Isa Kaya, who got 25 points. 

“I am very happy I did my best. Sobra ang saya po, lalung-lalo na sa mga skateboarders natin,” Margielyn told the press.

Margie, who has been skating since she was 12 years old, admits she used to cut classes while she was studying at Lahug Night High School in Cebu City, so she could skateboard with friends. But she is quick to clarify, “Pero mabait po ako na anak sa mga parents at kapatid ko,” she told Aaron Bayato of Radyo Pilipinas in Palembang, as reported by Spin.ph.

The teenager, who told Smartparenting.com.ph that she grew up skating on the streets and assisting her mom sell kwek kwek, will take home Php6 million in incentives from the government and private sponsors. She says she wants to put up a small business with her parents from the money she will receive. “Bibigay ko po sa nanay ko para makapagtayo kami ng small business,” reports GMA News Online.

Coming from humble beginnings, Margie is the fourth of five children of Lito, a carpenter, and food vendor Julie. Her parents were her primary influence in taking up the sport because both used to roller skate! As they were not able to witness her win in Jakarta, Margielyn hopes to bring them to her next event, in Brazil, reports ABS-CBN Sports. 

Margie's trainings in the U.S. and in London earlier this year were mainly financed by the MVP Sports Foundation and supported by Siklab Atleta. 

Here's an excerpt from her gold-winning performance at the 2018 Asian Games:

Video by Yoyo Sarmenta, courtesy of Skate Scene Philippines

Margielyn joins the ranks of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, and golfers Yuka Saso, Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go among the Philippines' gold medalists in this year's Asian Games.  

This story was updated on August 30, 2018 at 7:33 p.m.