Cycling champ Marella Salamat has a lot to thank for
Cycling is a sport that’s been here for generations, but it really hasn’t caught on with the general public up until recently. Cycling is a sport that is perfect for Filipinos because it is talent and technique that is important, and not necessarily a large physical frame.
With the rise in the number of tournaments, not to mention a lot of triathlon events, which also highlight the sport, cycling is on the upswing, and this can only bode well for Philippine sports in general.
One of our brightest prospects is Marella Vania Salamat who, after bagging a gold medal in last year’s South East Asian Games, recently finished third at the World University Cycling Games held in Tagaytay City.
The 21-year-old, who actually just picked up the sport two years ago, has loads of potential!
PHILIPPINE STAR: How did you start out in cycling?
MARELLA VANIA SALAMAT: I used to be very overweight — I was 215 pounds back then, and was very into bowling. I decided to lose weight when I entered college. I entered boxing, and at the same time ran a lot, too. I tried duathlon, and won second place in my first race under my first coach back then. Soon after, I decided to expose myself in cycling races and longed to find my own personal coach. And that’s when I met coach Ponga (Lobramonte). He told me to focus on cycling first, helped me enter the national team, really worked hard for me, and that’s how it all started. He pushed me very very hard! (Laughs.)
What’s a typical day for you, training to get better?
In my opinion, there’s really no typical day if you wish to get better. It’s all in the mental toughness of a person. Before, I used to believe it was all about the physical strength — needing to train once in a while to get to a certain fitness level. But as time passed by, the more that coach Ponga exposed us to races, the more I believed that everything is in the mental toughness of a person. If you are hungry enough to prove something, then you will do everything to win. You wouldn’t think of any excuse or whatnot. So it would be any day — spend the morning on the road, afternoon in the gym.
You recently placed third in the World University Championship, was that a surprise to you?
Yes, it was a surprise to me, actually. The moment I arrived in the country Thursday afternoon, it was already getting tough for my body to deal with everything going on. Arriving, seeing my parents, talking to them and wanting to spend more time with them off the bike. I really wanted to rest after the nine-day tour. But I knew I had to continue for the country, and, of course, because I have chosen to commit to this career. I did what I could. To win the bronze was the best thing that happened, and it was such a great bonus for all the body pains and challenging routes.
What else are you targeting for 2016?
Coach and I are targeting to accumulate points for us to be able to join the World Cup for Cycling to be held in 2017. Just more tune-up races as well as more time trial training in preparation for the next SEA Games in Malaysia next year.
What would be the ultimate prize for you in the sport?
To make my parents and everyone else who supported and continue to support me proud, like those who have known me since I started as an amateur on the bike, like coach Ponga, his family, sir Ed Kalaw just to mention a few. To make them all proud of me is the ultimate prize that I have won already in the sport. Because for me, we have all won this game! It’s like, we all took a risk. We all didn’t know that I could win when I first joined the SEA Games last year. But because they believed in me, they supported me, I won. So, to inspire more people to enjoy and get hooked on cycling and to have the passion for it will be the ultimate prize for me.
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