From Davao Mats to Olympic Dreams: The Making of Chino Sy

Some athletes discover their sport by chance. For Chino Sy, judo was practically waiting for him at home.

He grew up in Davao in a family where martial arts wasn’t just a hobby but a part of daily life. Training wasn’t introduced to him; it was simply how he was raised. From a young age, he was already on the mat, learning from someone he trusted most.

“I started when I was 8 years old. And ang coach ko is yung papa ko since he was also a part of the national team ng judo when he was still competing. So, I did judo with my sister. We started with judo, jujitsu, wrestling. At tapos, sambo,” he told ALL-STAR Magazine in an exclusive interview.

Still, even kids who grow up in a sport sometimes want to try something different. In high school, Chino reached a point where judo began to feel like a routine. He needed space — a breather — to figure out if this was really what he wanted.

“Parang gusto ko lang ng breather away from judo. So, nag-try ako ng taekwondo… basketball. Nung Grade 10 na ako, I was offered to be a varsity team sa Davao. May standing offer na rin naman ako sa UST to be part of their varsity team para naman sa judo. Mas magandang school ang UST at mas matagal ko nang ginagawa rin ang judo. Tingin ko mas maraming opportunities pag judo yung pinili ko.”

Choosing UST meant choosing judo again. Not because he had to, but because he believed in the path it could give him.

But even when you love something, burnout happens. Chino admits there were moments when the passion dipped, especially after early success.

“Feeling ko parang naging routine na yung training. After ko manalo ng una kong SEA Games, feeling ko sumobra lang rin ako sa training. Nawalan rin ako ng gana.”

Then the pandemic happened. And strangely, that pause helped him reset. With competitions on hold and contact sports impossible, he focused on himself. No pressure, no medals, just health.

“Nagkaroon ako ng time para mag-focus sa sarili ko. Nag-try ako mag-cycling, naging para sa health and fitness lang. Sa dalawang taon na yun, wala talaga akong ginawang judo and sambo training. Na-miss ko rin naman siya eventually. Kaya nagkaroon ako ng cravings para sa judo ulit.”

That craving brought him back stronger — though not without doubts.

Even after winning gold, losses made him question himself.

“Natalo ako nung first year ko sa UAAP. Coming out of a gold medal, feeling ko medyo na-down ako nun. Baka nachamba lang yung panalo ko, baka hindi ako enough para manalo.”

Instead of stopping, he leaned into experience. He competed across different combat sports — judo, sambo, wrestling — building maturity match by match.

“Napapansin ko rin sa sarili ko na gumaganda yung performance ko. Malaki yung nagiging improvement ko.”

That growth was eventually matched with belief from the highest level. Chino earned an Olympic Solidarity scholarship, a crucial step in his road toward Los Angeles 2028. When he won gold again, this time in judo, the moment overwhelmed him. He cried. Not because of pressure, but due to proof.

“Ito yung isa sa malaking test para sa akin. Kung deserve ko ba yung solidarity scholarship na yun. Kaya ako naiyak kasi nga na-prove ko. Gustong-gusto ko talaga makapag-qualify sa Olympics ng 2028.”

That dream is no longer his alone. He carries it with his family, and with every Filipino athlete chasing the same stage.

“It’s not just my dream. Every athlete’s dream is to step onto the Olympic level. Gusto na rin talaga nila makapag-qualify sa Olympics. Ngayon na yung chance namin.”

The road ahead isn’t simple. Rankings, points, international competitions — it’s a grind. Chino currently sits inside the world rankings in the men’s -100kg division, among the top in Southeast Asia, and knocking on the door of Olympic qualification.

“Kailangan ko lang talaga ng konting push at mas maging consistent, tapos mag-improve pa yung results ko. Nasa rank 82 ako in the world, tapos nasa top 3 ako sa Southeast Asian region. Medyo abot-kamay naman yung pag-qualify.”

So the plan is clear: more training abroad, more strength work, more tournaments.

“I’ll be undergoing more training abroad, intensive strength and conditioning regimen. Kailangan ko umattend ng mga competitions and to garner points para umangat yung rank ko.”

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What makes Chino’s story resonate is that he doesn’t see this as a solo pursuit. As cliché as it may sound, he is fighting for something bigger than himself.

“Hindi ko lang ito ginagawa para sa akin. Para sa bayan. Journey natin towards the Olympics. Sa simpleng pangarap lang, sa tiyaga at sa disiplina lang, kaya-kayang abutin yung mga pangarap.”

He wants the next generation to know that big dreams aren’t reserved for someone else.

“Gusto ko maging example na yung mga pangarap na mukhang impossible, kayang-kaya naman abutin.”

And if you’re wondering why you barely see him on TikTok, well, the Olympic hopeful has a simple explanation. He considers himself a frustrated dancer.

“Feeling ko frustrated dancer ako. Gustong-gusto ko talaga matuto. Kaya rin ako hindi nakakapag-TikTok kasi puro sayaw yun.”

Whether dancing becomes a future chapter remains to be seen. But from the mats of Davao to the dream of Los Angeles 2028, Chino Sy isn’t just chasing a medal.

He’s chasing a family legacy, a national flag on the Olympic stage, and proof that impossible dreams only need stubborn believers.