| |
| |
![]() |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
MANILA : Renowned Filipino bowler Rafael "Paeng" Nepomuceno has been honoured for the third time by the Guinness Book of World Records.
The six-time world bowling champion was first recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records for winning four World Cup championships in three different decades.
He was honoured the second time for being the youngest bowler, at 19, to win the World Cup.
Now, the greatest Philippine athlete of all time has set another record for the most number of career championships worldwide.
He said: "My third Guinness World Record is for winning 118 worldwide titles in a career, and this is for everyone - 'to my countrymen, the Filipinos, the Philippines, this is all for you.'
"Whenever I compete, I always give my very best, and I always keep in mind that I represent the Philippines and I am a Filipino. So that is what keeps me going. I just want to give my best 110 per cent all the time."
Among his numerous international awards, the Filipino bowler considers the International Olympic Committee President's Trophy - which he received in 1999 - his most memorable.
He said: "It is very important because it is the highest sports award, and it was given to a bowler for that year even if bowling is not an Olympic sport."
In the same year, he was also named the World Bowling Federation's "Athlete of the Millennium".
In 2003, he was named the "Greatest International Bowler of All Time" by the World Bowling Journal.
Now, as a goodwill ambassador and coach of the United States Bowling Congress, he is busy promoting bowling as a medal sport in the Olympics.
Beyond the international recognition and world titles, the bowler's greatest achievement is to be able to serve as an inspiration to millions of Filipinos. That is why the 51-year-old athlete still actively competes.
And he is working hard to set yet another record. He said: "Maybe the oldest World Cup champion, why not? I think no one has won it at 50, so if I win someday, who knows.
"I have achieved everything that has to be achieved in bowling. I have got all the awards. My main goal these days is to keep up with the younger guys half my age and show them that I can still compete."
He is thus showing the world that a true champion will never rest on his laurels. - CNA/ms
|
