Fil-Am girl a potential gold mine

 Ria Jacinto, a talented 13-year-old, full-blooded Filipino gymnast who has been training and living in the United States, is knocking on the doors of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines.

“Ria would very much want to compete for the Philippines in international tournaments,” said Ria’s mother Karen Jacinto through an email message sent to Philippine Sports commissioner Eric Loretizo.

Jacinto, who picked up the sport five and a half years ago, is currently a level 9 junior who trains under former Ukrainian champion Natasha Lisogor at Twister Gymnastics in Mountain View, California.

The Jacintos had been in constant touch with the GAP until Dulce Saguisag, the late former GAP secretary general, died in an accident last year and former RP team coach Santiago Ty resigned from his post.

“We will try help them in our own little way because this girl could be a potential gold mine in the future,” said Loretizo.

“There are three more Fil-Am girls around in California who are interested in competing for the Philippines as well. I know you do not have a junior team so the four of them can make up the junior team, they are very good girls because two are also level 9 juniors like Ria and one a level 8,” said Jacinto.

Jacinto has done an exhibition with the RP rhythmic gymnastics team two years ago but couldn’t join the squad because her US training came in conflict with  the training of the Nationals.