MANILA – It was a golden start for jiu-jitsu world champion Annie Ramirez this year, winning her third straight Asian Beach Games gold medal in Sanya, China last week.
Following an early exit in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, Ramirez made sure she did not go home empty-handed in the –57kg division.
The 35-year-old defeated compatriot Emily Thomas in the all-Filipino final, contributing the second gold from jiu-jitsu for Team Philippines.
"So far in history, ako 'yung may three consecutive Asian Beach Games na title. So siyempre parang napakalaki ko na makagawa ko 'yan sa achievement ko. Inulan kami ng bongga noong finals. So I think isa 'yun sa mga memorable na hindi ko makakalimutang experience," Ramirez told ABS-CBN News in an exclusive interview.
For the bemedalled jiu-jitsu athlete, the victory was memorable in so many ways, including getting to test her skills against higher level opponents like Thomas.
"It's been a while since nakalaro ako ng co-Filipino athlete in the finals. So in the same time, to test ulit 'yung performance ko. Kasi si Emily, high level si Emily na athlete. Hindi lang siya basta-basta athlete kasi exposed siya sa malalaking academies or magagaling na athletes," Ramirez said.
"Ako pupunta lang ako ng bansa once in a while. Parang for training konti then balik na. So parang somehow masaya ako na despite that kind of opponent na nakuha ko pa rin 'yung tagumpay," she added.
Ramirez already had a feeling she could face off with Thomas in the finals, especially with how both of them were performing on the mats.
"Actually mas kinakabahan ako sa kanya. Alam ko 'yung caliber niya. Paano ko ito mapu-pull off? Paano ko malalagpasan 'yung laban na yun? Kasi parang despite siya, siya talaga 'yung pinaka-angat sa lahat. Ayun, nakakatawa na parang bigyan ako ni God ng time. Kasi na-delay 'yung competition, 'yung finals namin," she shared.
Their clash ended up being delayed by five hours due to the downpour that damaged the outdoor venue for jiu-jitsu.
She said organizers scrambled to move the competition to an indoor venue, pushing through with the finals five hours behind schedule.
"Siyempre andun ka sa anong mangyayari dito? Anong gagawin natin? Kasi baka magkasakit ka. Basa talaga kami. Parang kaming mga basang sisiw doon... sobrang lakas ng ulan doon," Ramirez said.
"Hindi ko na iniisip 'yung finals. Kasi importante kasi nakarating kami doon. Nakarating ako doon, nakarating si Emily doon. So parang ano na lang, paano namin tatapusin 'yun? Kami parang nag-usap kami, ano ba bibigay na pareho na gold sa finals na naman nag-medal? Kasi hindi namin alam kung ano ba mangyayari. Kinabukasan na ba kami? Ang pinaka-worst noon kung kinabukasan pa," she added. For Ramirez, she saw this as a blessing in disguise, which tested her mental fortitude.
"Tinry ko magpahinga, try ko mag-power nap pero hindi ako maka-pag power nap kasi nakikita ko yung event na 'yung finals namin ni Emily. So kung siyempre despite the challenges, atleta tayo kailangan marunong tayong maka-recover kahit ano 'yung mga biglang changes na hindi namin nako-control. So part 'yan lagi ng competition," she said.'
"So kailangan as an athlete marunong ka mag-adjust. Hindi ka ready doon, madi-distract ka, mas sira 'yung laro mo. So parang 'yun 'yung lagi kong tinatry. I mean di lagi ang 100% na nakaka-bounce ako sa mga sudden unexpected moment. Pero as much as possible, tinatry kong ikalma 'yung sarili ko," Ramirez explained.
In the end, Ramirez did not let the downpour rain on her parade, going home with her third gold medal in the multi-sport event.
Aside from being one of the country's gold medalists, Ramirez also served as one of the flagbearers for the 6th Asian Beach Games opening ceremony alongside jiu-jitsu athlete Yman Baluyo.
She hopes their presence and delivering medals would put the spotlight on the combat sport and the country's potential to continue achieving on the mats.
The 35-year-old hopes to carry this momentum in her next competitions, as she returns to training with two major tournaments already lined up for July.