Despite battling a stubborn sprain—and later having a successful protest and review —gymnast John Ivan Cruz managed to share the gold medal in the men’s vault at SEA Games 2025 with Malaysia.
A week before the 33rd SEA Games, gymnast John Ivan Cruz could barely trust his right ankle—a setback that kept him from defending his floor exercise title after failing to qualify for the medal round.
But on Friday, December 11, he trusted it enough to fly.
Despite battling a stubborn sprain—and surviving a nerve-wracking scoring dispute— Cruz walked out of the Thammasat University Rangsit Campus in Bangkok with the shared gold medal in the men’s vault event thanks to a gutsy effort.
The victory marks his second SEA Games gold, adding to the floor exercise title he won in Cambodia in 2023.
“Last gold ko noong 2023, mas driven ako noon,” Cruz shared. “Itong pagkapanalo ko ngayon, hindi ako ganoon ka-pressure kasi alam ko na kaya nating magka-medal talaga. ’Yun ’yung pagkakaiba—mas na-pressure ako last SEA Games," he said in inetrveiw with Cignal's Belle Gergorio.
This year’s win, however, didn’t come without drama.
Cruz initially received a score of 13.817, but his coach Nedal Alyousef immediately called for an appeal and a review after the in-venue display flashed a 13.833 tie between Cruz and Malaysia’s Muhammad Aimy.
Minutes later, the inquiry was upheld, bumping Cruz’s score to match Aimy’s and officially giving both gymnasts a share of the gold as Thailand’s Tikumporn Surintornta claimed bronze with 13.717.
“Nung tumayo ako ng dalawang beses, sabi ko, ‘Sa’tin na ’to,’” Cruz recalled. “Nakita ko ’yung score and nanghinayang ako. Sabi ko, baka pwede tayong mag-inquire—and buti na lang narecompute.”
[ALSO READ: PH gymnasts Aleah Finnegan, John Ivan Cruz nearly robbed of SEA Games gold]
Pain is temporary
Despite not still in 100% physically, Cruz powered through pain with a gutsy performance to give Team Philippines its second gold in artistic gymnastics this SEA Games Thailand 2025.
[ALSO READ: Olympian Aleah Finnegan overcomes grief en route to SEA Games 2025 gold]
“Plano ko talaga na kahit masakit, itutuloy ko. Kaya ko naman ’yung pain—and nilaban ko lang talaga,” he said.
His head coach Alyousef Coach Alyousef acknowledged that the Cruz’s injury caused “up-and-down moments” in the days leading up to the event, particularly with Cruz’s confidence in his landings.
“It’s been up and down for Ivan because of the soreness in his foot,” the coach said.
“But after talking with him the day before, he decided he’s going to ignore that.”
Ignore it he did—and with grit, calm, and a perfectly timed challenge, Cruz leaves the SEA Games with another gold around his neck.
(With reports from Belle Gregorio/Cignal)
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.