BEHIND EVERY triumph and defeat in sports is a story—one of sacrifice, adversity, and unwavering dedication. Unfortunately, it is not very often that spectators are treated to these inspiring narratives. At the forefront of the blood, sweat, and tears are the career-defining performances, undefeated win streaks, or in the case of the ladies of the FAST Ateneo Swim Team (FAST), another effortless run to secure their third straight championship. 

Their journey to the top for the third consecutive title was no small feat, despite what the scoreboard showed. It was filled with the kind of struggles and pressure that turn athletes into champions. 

A blast from the past

It was almost like deja vu for the Lady Eagles, who found themselves in a position like this not too long ago. Three years ago, the team was at the cusp of winning the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 79 Women’s Swimming Tournament, which would have cemented a three-peat for the Lady Eagles at the time. However, Ateneo’s narrow loss to the University of the Philippines (UP) that season prevented the team from achieving the feat. Had they won that year, UAAP Season 82 would have marked the Lady Eagles’ sixth straight championship, matching the current title streak of the men’s team. 

Team captain and graduating senior Raegan Gavino, who is one of the remaining few in the team who faced that heartbreak, said that she used the experience to remind her team to stay humble. “We [used] the loss as a reminder of there always being the possibility of losing,” she shared. 

Evidently, that mindset prepared the team well this season. Ateneo recorded 458 points in UAAP Season 82—an astounding 63 points more than the second-place UP—to ensure that history would not repeat itself.

Facing the pressure

Ateneo’s dominance was not a surprise as many fans and supporters had already anticipated the ladies to cruise all the way to another first-place finish even before the competition began. While it was easy to crumble under these mounting expectations, the team rose to the occasion by adjusting their mindset. “Our team focused on things we could control—our training, our behavior, and attitude—and really zeroed in on our personal goals to achieve the common one,” Gavino explained. 

Third year Lady Eagle Chloe Daos echoed Gavino’s sentiments, adding that the team blocked off the outside noise. “We didn’t focus on the pressure to get another championship. [We] just focused on doing our best,” she added. For Daos, that meant sweeping her seven events to not only give her team much-needed points, but to also fulfill her goal of taking home the Most Valuable Player award for the third year in a row. 

This mindset did not only help Daos. The entire FAST Women’s Team took the pressure in stride to pull off one dominating performance after another. After four days of competition, the team collected 15 gold, six silver and eight bronze medals to finish far ahead of the pack. Behind these stellar performances were two record-breaking swims: One from Daos, who now holds the record in the 200m Butterfly event, and the second from the relay team of Marj Manguiat, Andrea Ngui, Portia Doragos, and Suzanne Himor, who all set a new record for the 4x100m Freestyle relay.

But the Lady Eagles knew that it would take more than just a mental adjustment to reach success. “This season, the team was more open to taking risks,” Daos said. While their physical preparation and training regimen stayed more or less the same, what differed was that some of the members of the team were practicing for events outside their comfort zone. 

But one characteristic that remained amidst these changes: Their culture of greatness. “The environment that the team and our coaches created is one that breeds excellence,” Gavino expressed. “We always make it a point to step-up whether it’s during training or at meets. This ‘stepping-up’ mindset was ingrained in us and exemplified the most in us this year.” Having to adapt to change can be daunting, most especially when the chance for gold is on the line. However, in true champion fashion, the Lady Eagles not only accepted the challenge, but welcomed it as well.

The future of FAST

Although Gavino will be leaving and passing on the title of captain, she remains excited to see what is in store for the next batch of swimmers. But in terms of expectations, she has none. “I don’t really have expectations for the team next season and for the incoming batches except to enjoy what they’re doing.” Knowing that the program has built champions, she is assured that the ones left behind are in good hands. 

As for Daos, who will be entering her fourth year next season, her aspirations are clear. “Next season all we could possibly hope for is to bring home another championship for Ateneo,” she said.

Given the mindset, culture, and sheer talent that the team has developed throughout the years, a four-peat is not as far-fetched as it may seem.