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A whole new world for Muros, the long jump queen of the 80s

Muros & Duterte
Muros with President Duterte and fellow sports icons.
Muros
Muros in action.
Muros1
Muros with her gold medals.
(with reports from Gab Fererras/Photos from Muros’ social media page)

ELMA Muros-Posadas was the country’s undisputed long jump queen since the Gintong Alay days in the 80s.

She was a two-time Olympian in Los Angeles in 1986 and Atlanta in 1996.

She was a two-time bronze medalist in the Asian Games in the 400m hurdles in Beijing in 1990 and long jump in Hiroshima in 1994.

She was also a four-time medalist in long jump in the Asian Athletics Championships, winning the silver in Kuwait in 1983 and New Delhi in 1989 and bronze in Manila in 1993 and Jakarta in 1995.

She was also a 15-time gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games, a record number in the athletics competition which she still jointly holds with Jennifer Tin Lay of Myanmar.

She was also two-time Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Sportsman of the Year in 1993 and 1995 and the first-ever recipient of the Palarong Pambansa Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.

And now, Muros is finally a member of the exclusive Philippine Sports Hall of Fame.

It means a lot to me and my family, “said Muros-Posadas when told about her well-deserved inclusion in the Hall of Fame.

Malaki talaga ang pasasalamat ko sa pagkapili sa akin dahil alam ko talagang pinag-bobotohan ito. Tatanawin ko ito habang buhay dahil talagang nasuklian ang aking serbisyo bilang atleta sa ating bansa,” said Muros-Posadas during the “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) last March 11.

Tumatanda na din tayo pero hindi kami nagsasawa ng aking asawang si Coach Jojo (Posadas) sa pag-tulong maka-develop ng mga bagong atleta mula UAAP, NCAA hanggang SEA Games sa tulong ng PSC at PSI,” added Muros-Posadas during the weekly public service program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

Muros-Posadas, who appeared on the same forum with PSC Commissioner Celia Kiram and rising mixed martial arts star Lara Alvarez, claimed her inclusion to the Hall of Fame Is the crowning glory of a career which started when she was barely 14 years old.

Akala ko nga they (HoF committee) will just consider the Olympic medalists. But I think it mattered to them that I won golds in the World Masters and now help the grassroots.

Now, 54 and already retired from active competitions, Muros joins 46 other outstanding Filipino athletes who have already been enshrined by the PSC since Republic Act 8757, or the law establishing the Hall of Fame, was signed by President Joseph Estrada on Nov. 25, 1999.

The pride of Magdiwang Romblon is also now one of only nine female athletes enshrined in the Hall of Fame after Haydee Coloso-Espino (swimming) and Mona Sulaiman (athletics), who made it in the second batch in 2016; Bong Coo (bowling), Lita de la Rosa (bowling), Josephine de la Vina (athletics), and Lydia de Vega (athletics), who made in the third batch in 2018 ; and Gertrudes Lozada (swimming) and Arianne Cerdena (bowling), who also made it in the fourth batch.

Asked where she gets the inspiration to keep going, Muros said being with people in the countryside and help them achieve their goals makes her and husband-coach Jojo happy.

Masaya po ako sa ginagawa ko ngayon, na sa tulong ng PSC bilang regional coordinator, kung saan-saan kami nagpupunta para maibahagi at maiparating ang mga programa nin PSCChairman William Ramirez at President Rodrigo Duterte,” explained Muros.

A five-time participant at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in 1985, 1989, 1993, 1995 and 1996, Muros lauded the PSC for performing its role even during the pandemic.

Malaking bagay na kahit may pandemic, tuloy pa rin ang PSI nina sir Marc Velasco at sir Marlon Malbog sa National Sports Coaching Certification na online course. Malaking bagay po na mai-share po namin bilang coordinator ng CALABARZON at MIMAROPA. Nakikipag-coordinate din kami sa DepEd, mga LGUs, Mayors at Governors na maipaparating ang mga proyekto ng PSC at PSI.”

Muros-Posadas , who still holds several national records in long jump and 400-m hurdles, underscored the importance of tapping retired athetes in developing young and talented athletes.

Bilang grassroots coach na stepping stone ng PSC-PSI, talaga nakaka-inspire na ultimo yung mga teachers na nakakasalamuha namin ay natutuwa dahil hindi naman nila nagagampanan ang lahat.

Kaya kaming mga athletes lalo na mga retirees, ang pumupuno at nagsisilbing inspirasyon sa mga batang atleta, mula probinsya.,lalo na yun mga elementary at high school.Nakatutuwa din na yun mga mayors na very active sa sports kasi ito rin yung bahagi na ma-promote at makikilala yung bayan nila sa pamamagitan ng tulong ng PSC-PSI.

Malaki din ang pasalamat ko din na hindi sila na-involved sa droga at hindi napababayaan ang talent ng mga batang atleta. Karamihan talagang mga mahihirap kaya gusto natin mailalabas ang kanilang galing sa sports para magkaroon ng magandang buhay.

Kaya nga lagi kong advise sa mga bagong athletes, wag nila sayangin yun opportunidad na ibinibigay sa kanila, lalo na yun nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na makapag-aral sa mga universities dahil sa sports.

It was not all rosy for Muros-Posadas, however.

Actually, ang problema minsan hindi pinapayagan ng magulang or ng coach mismo na umalis sila sa probinsya at mag-train sa Manila”” recalled Muros-Posadas.

Sayang ang opportunity ng mga bata, na hanggang doon na lang yun talent at hindi na mae-explore yung talagang galing nila.

It’s a whole new world for Muros-Posadas, the country’s undisputed long jump queen.

But Muros-Posadas is taking on the challenge and intends to win just like the good old times.