Anselmo Gonzaga

Anselmo Gonzaga was one in a row of world class sprinters from the Philippines in the 1920s. While attending the Siliman University in Dumaguete, in 1927 he set a new Philippine record with 10.5 second in the 100 m dash. With this time, Gonzaga was ranked fourth in the world that year, and again in 1929. At the 1927 Far Eastern Games, he won gold in the 200 m straight beating defending champion David Nepomuceno, as well as in the 4 x 200 m relay.

These achievements earned him a place on the team for the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. There, he advanced to the second round in the 100 m. Gonzaga was, however, eliminated in the first round of the 200 m and the quarter-final of the 100 m. Two years later, at the 1930 Far Eastern Games, he had to settle for silver in both the 100 m and 200 m behind emerging Japanese star Takayoshi Yoshioka. In the same year, he ran a personal best in the 220 y with 21.5 seconds. In his last season in 1932, he took his last double title in the sprint at the national championships before he retired. Later he served as an official, as a starter and judge.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.5 (1927); 200 – 21.5ys (1930).