How 2023 Asian Games Finalist Mazel Paris Alegado Changes Filipino Attitudes Towards Sports

Waving the banner for the young and proud, meet 2023 Asian Games finalist Mazel Paris Alegado.

Despite competing against skateboarders with much more experience than her, 9-year-old Mazel Paris Alegado manages to place in the finals for the 2023 Asian Games which is no small feat. While her other competitors were already in their teens (and even older!) like Gold medal winner and Japanese representative 15-year-old Hinano Kusaki and Silver and Bronze medalists China’s 20-year-old Li Yujuan, and Mao Jiasi, 15, it’s still an amazing accomplishment. Mazel, despite losing out on the medal, is still ecstatic about her chance to skate.

“It was great though I don’t really think about it too much,” shares the 9-year-old sheepishly in an interview with the Olympic Council of Asia. “But I’m still so happy that I made it into the finals!”

Currently, she is one of the youngest!

How did Mazel find the love for skateboarding?

Growing up in the United States, Mazel reportedly learned how to skateboard by watching her brother when they first tried it out in their cousin’s house. While her brother eventually left it behind, she continued and even trained in Portugal before the Asian games.

“I was like, ‘Can I try? Can I try?'” she says with a giggle in an interview with Olympics.com, adding that her brother stopped. “He stopped because he was like, ‘Oh dang, she’s better than me now’.”

Considered now as a pro-athlete, Mazel gets to experience life in the Athlete Village. Her innocent optimism is completely infectious as she remarks in an interview what life was like there. “They have the best ice cream!” she exclaims.

In an interview with CNN, her excitement to skate seems to have overwhelmed her nervousness about competing in a grand event. “No, not really. I was just really happy to be there.”

Her love for skateboarding opens a door for many other kids who are aspiring to become professional athletes. “Don’t be afraid; try your hardest,” she encourages. “If boys can do it, so can girls!”

Opening another sport for Filipinos to support

Mazel’s break into the finals demonstrates that Filipinos can go beyond the typical sports. While Filipinos love basketball and won’t be stopping anytime soon, there’s still a lot of love and support to go around for athletes in other sports — both aspiring and climbing — so they can stand at the top of the world to represent who they are. We’ve seen how support can go a long way, especially with 8-division-weight-titleholder Manny Pacquiao and former Street Skateboard Champion Margielyn Didal (who unfortunately had to withdraw due to an injury).

But one thing’s for sure: athletes are not born; they are made. Built with support and grit, all they need is a family to firmly believe they too can stand on the global stage. Just like how Mazel did it for the 2023 Asian Games.

Here are more Filipino athletes who need your support!

The Source of Alex Eala’s Grand Slam: Her Parents’ Steady Support
Juliana Gomez Rises as 2023 UAAP Fencing Champion
The Philippine Women’s National Football Team Paves Way For Aspiring Filipino Footballers