Cris Nievarez

Cris Marasigan Nievarez (born April 4, 2000[2]) is a Filipino rower who competes for the Philippines in international rowing competition. He has qualified to compete in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Marasigan and the surname or paternal family name is Nievarez.
Cris Nievarez
Personal information
NationalityFilipino
Born (2000-04-04) April 4, 2000
Home townAtimonan, Quezon
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Sport
CountryPhilippines
SportRowing
Event(s)Single sculls
Coached byEdgardo Maerina[1]
Shuhrat Ganiev
Medal record
Representing  Philippines
Men's rowing
Southeast Asian Games
Gold medal – first place2019 PhilippinesLightweight single sculls
Silver medal – second place2021 VietnamLightweight double sculls
Bronze medal – third place2021 VietnamLightweight single sculls

Career

Early years

A native of Atimonan, Quezon, Cris Nievarez was born to a father who worked as a land caretaker and a mother who is a homemaker. He is the youngest of three children.[3] In his childhood, Nievarez played basketball and competed in track and field athletics. He took up the sports at grade 7 and was contented to compete in the Palarong Pambansa, the national student-athlete competition in the Philippines. In athletics, he competed in the 400-meter sprint.[4]

Nievarez took up rowing around 2015.[5] Fellow Atimonan native Justine Viñas, invited him to try for a spot in the national rowing team. He was able to secure a spot following three months of training near the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City.[4] He was 15 years old when he joined the national rowing team.[3]

2019 Southeast Asian Games

Nievarez competed at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games which was hosted by the Philippines.[1] He clinched the gold medal in the men's lightweight single sculls event after clocking 7 minutes and 34.27 seconds besting Siripong Chaiwichitchonkul of Thailand and Kakan Kusmana of Indonesia who won silver and bronze, respectively.[6][7]

2020 Summer Olympics

Cris Nievarez qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo which was postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] He qualified by placing ninth in the 2021 World Rowing Asia Oceania Continental Qualification Regatta in Tokyo and earned one of the five berths available for that qualifier. Rowers who placed fourth to eighth already qualified for the Olympics, allowing Nievarez to earn a spot in the games. He will be the third rower to represent the Philippines in the Olympics, with the last competitor being Benjie Tolentino who took part in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.[3] In preparation for the games, Nievarez worked by Uzbek coach Shuhrat Ganiev. Ganiev mostly conducted Nievarez's training virtually due to the pandemic. Nievarez targets to finish within the top six in his event.[9]

Nievarez was drawn to compete in Heat 5 in the men's single sculls event. He finished third among five rowers, qualifying for the quarterfinal round. He clocked 7:22.97 finishing behind Damir Martin of Croatia (7:09.17) and Alexander Vyazovkin of the ROC team (7:14.95).[10] In the semifinal, Nievarez finished fifth, which meant that he is no longer in contention to win a medal. He progressed to the semifinal C/D to determine his final placing.[11]

Post-2020 Olympics

Niavarez competed at the 2022 Asian Rowing Virtual Indoor Championships where he clinch a silver medal in the men's under-23 2,000m event.[12]

References
  1. Andaya, Ed (October 31, 2020). "Filipino Rowers Set Sights On Olympic Qualifiers, SEA Games". Journal Online. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  2. "NIEVAREZ, Cris". Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  3. Pedralvez, Manolo (May 10, 2021). "Pinoy rower Nievarez recalls upstream battle before achieving Olympic dream". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  4. Yumol, David Tristan (May 10, 2021). "Gamble on an unfamiliar sport leads Cris Nievarez to Olympic dreams". CNN Philippines. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  5. Navarro, June (May 11, 2021). "Now there are eight: Late-blooming rower Nievarez books Olympics slot". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  6. Ulanday, John Bryan (December 8, 2019). "Philippine Rowers create ripples". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  7. "Nievarez, Delgaco-Caballero rule SEAG sculls races". Tiebreaker Times. December 7, 2019. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  8. "Rower Cris Nievarez earns spot at Tokyo Summer Olympics". BusinessWorld. May 10, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  9. Beltran, Nelson (July 19, 2021). "Top Six eyed by young Olympic rowing debutant". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  10. Morales, Luis (July 23, 2021). "Rower Nievarez books quarterfinals spot in Men's Single Sculls". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  11. "Cris Nievarez ends Olympic campaign after placing fifth in rowing QF". GMA News Online. July 25, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  12. "Nievarez leads PH Rowing team to eight-medel haul in Asian Championships". Tiebreaker Times. January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
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