COSTLY MISTAKE: Kong finishes first in Olanggo Challenge but loses due to technicality

Participants of the Olango Challenge brave the strong current of the Hilutungan Channel for the 7th edition of the open water event yesterday. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

It was supposed to be sweet victory for 15-year-old swimmer Michael Ichiro Kong. But a costly mistake cancelled his plans for celebration.

Kong, an ace swimmer of the University of Cebu (UC) and the vaunted Cebu Blue Marlins swim team, finished first in the six-kilometer category of the 7th Olanggo Challenge at the Crimson Resort and Spa in Mactan yesterday but was later disqualified for allegedly failing to swim around a buoy en route to his second loop.

He came out of the waters of the Hilutungan Channel first but technical judges nullified his victory after learning he missed a buoy.

Alex Reyes of the Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) said the error meant disqualification, a rule that was already discussed during the pre-race briefing.

“Sadly, his mistake has a heavy penalty, which is equivalent to disqualification,” Reyes said.

According to the technical judge Mark Arcamo, who was holding the buoy that Kong allegedly missed, he did not see Kong swim around the buoy. He said he called the attention of Kong and other swimmers who were not able to turn around the buoy to inform them but they allegedly ignored him.

“I was embracing the buoy that kept on moving because of the strong current so I am very sure that I did not see him turn.”

Kong, who would have won P10,000 for topping the 6k division, insisted he turned around the buoy but he did it while he was underwater.

“I swam under the buoy because the current was strong so he did not see me swim around it,” Kong explained.

Kong and his mother tried to file a protest but the technical team and organizers stood by their decision.

Last year, Kong also lost after swimming out of the race course.

RAFI SWIMMERS WIN
Kong’s disqualification gave way for defending champion Keith Ocampo of University of San Carlos (USC) and Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) swim team to retain his title. He finished in one hour, 29 minutes and eight seconds.

“I did not expect to win this especially since Kong was leading the race. I am also under-trained because I’m starting to shift to triathlon,” Ocampo said.

Fellow USC and RAFI swimmer Loren Dale Echavez won the women’s crown for the fourth straight year, finishing in 1:31.49.

“I am always looking forward to win the race but I can’t deny that I still have some fear when it comes to open-water competition,” Echavez said.

Another member of the USC and RAFI team, Jebb Cane, lorded over the men’s 2k competitive division after clocking 30 minutes and 17 seconds. Denise Marie Ong topped the distaff side with a time of 32:51.

Swimmers from Japan, Denmark and Australia also joined the race that aims to build classrooms for the less fortunate children of Olango Island. The race is organized by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP) and PSI.