Titus Rafael Sia stood on the edge of the pool, his heart pounding louder than the cheers echoing through the stadium in Laoag City. As he glanced down at the shimmering blue water, he wasn’t just seeing a lane to swim—he was staring at the distance he had come.
One year ago in Cebu City, Titus left the Palarong Pambansa with only a single bronze medal in the 400-meter freestyle. It was his first taste of a national podium finish—and for most, that would be enough. But not for Titus.
“It felt like something just started,” he recalled, his voice calm but sure. “I didn’t want to stop there.”
What followed was a year of discipline, early morning dives, aching muscles, and relentless encouragement from the two people who believed in him the most: his father, Nino Dominic, and his coach, Miguel Ibazeta. They saw potential beneath the surface—potential that would soon shine gold.
Titus began swimming at five years old. Back then, it wasn’t medals he was chasing. It was moments shared with his older brother Chace, who is autistic. Their father had encouraged both boys to take to the water, hoping it would be something they could do together.
“It started with family,” said Titus. “Swimming helped us connect.”
But when competitive swimming called, it demanded more. After the pandemic lockdowns lifted in 2022, Titus dove head first into the sport. What started as a pastime became a passion.
At this year’s Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte, Titus didn’t just show up—he dominated. The sixth grader from Xavier School stood tall at 5’7”, and even taller with every medal draped around his neck. He finished the meet with a stunning seven gold medals, tying with fellow National Capital Region (NCR) standout Sophia Garra as the winningest athletes of the Games.
His final victories came in the elementary boys’ 50-meter backstroke and the 4×50-meter freestyle relay. But it was his earlier record-breaking wins in the 200-meter freestyle, 100-meter backstroke, and 400-meter freestyle that truly announced his arrival as a star.
“My time kept going down. It was fun watching it drop,” Titus said with a wide grin. “This year, I’m satisfied. Last year, it was one bronze. Now—seven golds. It feels good.”
And it wasn’t just about the medals. For Titus, each lap was a message—to his family, to himself, and perhaps most of all, to Chace.
“Every time I swim, I remember why I started. It’s for my brother. It’s for us.”
As the crowd roared in the stands of the Ferdinand E. Marcos Memorial Stadium pool, Titus didn’t just swim to victory. He swam with heart, with history, and with the quiet strength of a boy who turned sibling love into golden dreams.
