A Gen Z Filipina from Benguet Province being one of the best Muay Thai athletes in the world? Yeah, Filipino athletes never disappoint.
Related: 7 Rising Gen Z Filipino Athletes You Should Know
More and more we are seeing Filipino athletes succeed in all kinds of sports and that they can go toe-to-toe with the best of them around the world. It feels even better when Pinoy athletes break stereotypes by doing well in sports often associated with the opposite gender. Case in point: a 23-year-old Filipina athlete has been making the rounds on Muay Thai recently, and her latest achievement sees her top a world ranking.
THAT’S ON NO.1
INSTAGRAM/ISLAY_ERIKA
Recently, it was announced that Filipina Muay Thai athlete Islay Erika Bomogao ranked no. 1 in the world in the -45kg female elite category of the International Federation of Muay Thai Associations (IFMA) ranking. Oh, and the 23-year-old athlete just graduated from college last year. She’s that good. Bomogao, who is from Benguet, achieved the feat after she bested Australia’s Sarah Kwa, a Muay Thai state champion, via unanimous decision in a match held in Kenwick, Australia earlier this August.
This caused her to reach 1,920 points, thus securing the top spot in her division. Topping a world ranking, and being seen as one of the best female Muay Thai athletes in the world, is no easy feat. But those who have followed the Gen Z athlete’s career know that this moment was coming.
MUAY THAI QUEEN
Among the many (historic) achievements of this Benguet Province native are multiple SEA Games medals, gold at the Jincheon 1st World Youth Martial Arts Masterships in 2017 in Jincheon, South Korea, gold at the 2018 International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) Youth World Championships held in Bangkok, Thailand, and becoming the first Filipino female world Muay Thai champion in history when she bagged two medals in the 2023 IFMA Senior World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.
INSTAGRAM/ISLAY_ERIKA
Needless to say, her trophy shelf is heavy. BTW, she did all that while graduating Cum Laude from the University of Baguio with a Bachelor of Physical Education in 2023, and being an Athletic Awardee to boot. Completing college with honors while competing in multiple international Muay Thai competitions? We know that’s right! As if Bomogao couldn’t get any cooler, the Gen Z athlete, outside of the sport, is also a licensed secondary teacher and a foodie with a dedicated Instagram account chronicling her culinary adventures. And if you’re wondering, yes, she’s a dog mom and has a Chihuahua named Atom.
The past couple of years have been filled with stories of young Filipinos excelling in different sports. And now, Islay Erika Bomogao is breaking career records and adding her name to the list as another talented Filipino athlete worth following and supporting. Gen Z Filipino athletes always with the Ws.
Continue Reading: These Filipina Athletes Are Breaking Barriers For Women In Sports
