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Tag: Leonard Grospe

  • Leonard Grospe raises the bar again, breaks own Philippine record with 2.23-meter leap

    Leonard Grospe raises the bar again, breaks own Philippine record with 2.23-meter leap

    The Asian Beach Games gold medalist and 33rd Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist, Leonard Grospe once again rewrote the national record books after clearing 2.23 meters to dominate the 2026 ICTSI Philippine Athletic Championships in Tarlac.


    The 24-year-old needed only one attempt to clear the historic height, eclipsing the previous Philippine record of 2.22 meters that he himself established just a month ago. 

     

    What was once considered a breakthrough has quickly become a stepping stone as Grospe continues to push the limits of Philippine high jump.

     

    “Sobrang masaya ako (ma-break ang record) kasi eto po yung standard sa last Asian Jumps,” said Grospe.

     

    His performance did not stop there. With the national record already secured, Grospe raised the bar to 2.25 meters in pursuit of another milestone. 

     

    Although he was unable to clear the height, the attempt reflected the confidence that has grown within his camp following a series of remarkable performances over the past two years.

     

    Watching from the sidelines was coach Sean Guevarra, whose own national record of 2.17 meters stood untouched for 19 years before Grospe finally surpassed it with a 2.20-meter leap during the 2023 edition of the same competition.

     

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    “Actually yung target namin this year is 2.25, kasi nakikita namin sa preparation namin during training na capable siya mag-jump ng ganun kataas,” Guevarra said.

     

    “We aim to stretch that to as high as 2.30 meters para lumakas pa yung kanyang explosiveness,” Grospe’s coach added. 

     

    Earlier this year, Grospe delivered one of Philippine athletics’ biggest international victories when he captured gold at the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China.

     

     Competing on sand rather than a traditional track-and-field surface, he cleared 2.05 meters to secure the country’s second gold medal of the competition, demonstrating an ability to adapt under unfamiliar conditions.

     

    His latest record also continues a trend that has become increasingly evident throughout the season. Rather than producing one standout performance, Grospe has shown a steady upward trajectory, improving from 2.20 meters to 2.22 meters and now 2.23 meters. Each competition has become another chapter in a climb that appears far from over.

     

    The next challenge awaits at the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan this September, where Grospe hopes to test himself against some of the continent’s best. 

     

    Guevarra believes overseas training and intensive camps could help sharpen the technical aspects of his event and unlock even greater heights.

     

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  • Leonard Grospe conquers sand and odds for historic beach high jump gold in Asian Beach Games

    Leonard Grospe conquers sand and odds for historic beach high jump gold in Asian Beach Games

    On a surface that challenged even the most seasoned athletes, the Filipino high jumper Leonard Grospe turned uncertainty into advantage, capturing gold in the men’s high jump at the 2026 Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China. 


    Competing on sand for the first time in the event’s history, Grospe cleared 2.05 meters on his very first attempt—a mark that ultimately secured the top podium finish and stood as his season best.

    The 24-year-old athlete outdueled strong competition, including Chinese Taipei’s Yeh Po-Ting and China’s Zhang Hao, both of whom needed a second attempt to clear the same height. That single moment of precision proved decisive in a setting where footing was anything but stable.

     

    “Happy po, sobrang happy. Unexpected po kasi sobrang dulas din talaga,” Grospe said. 

     

    The victory carried added significance. This edition marked the return of the Asian Beach Games after nearly a decade and introduced beach high jump as a new discipline—turning Grospe into its first gold medalist in history.

     

    “Eto kasing sand, sobrang hirap all the way. Madulas. Minsan mabigat sa spikes. ‘Yung techniques mo, ‘di mo maa-apply dito kung ‘di mo maaayos,” the athlete from Mapua said. 

     

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    For an athlete who owns the national record at 2.21 meters, the shift from track to sand required not just physical adjustment, but a complete recalibration of technique and timing. Every step, every plant, every takeoff demanded balance on an unstable surface.

     

    Even Philippine athletics officials acknowledged the scale of the challenge—and the magnitude of Grospe’s response.

     

    “He deserves all the credit. Going here, he was looking for top three… luckily, siya unang naka-clear sa 2.05,” said PATAFA Secretary-General Jasper Tanhueco.

     

    His performance also drew praise from Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, who pointed to Grospe’s mindset as a key factor in the win—especially as the country prepares to host the Games in Cebu in 2028.

     

    “Gusto niya, passionate siya, alam niya na kaya niya,” Gregorio said. “Tuloy-tuloy lang. This is what it’s all about as we prepare for our hosting in 2028.”

     

    Grospe’s triumph marked the Philippines’ second gold medal in the 2026 Asian Beach Games, following Alexandria Enriquez’s breakthrough victory in jiu-jitsu a day earlier.

     

    From an untested event on an unforgiving surface came a defining moment—not just for Grospe, but for Philippine beach athletics. And as quickly as he conquered the sand in Sanya, the national record-holder now turns his focus back to familiar ground, preparing for his next campaign in the NCAA.

     

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