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| The Philippine men's curling team celebrating their historic first gold medal win at the 9th Asian Winter Games in China (Image Source: Sports Bytes Philippines/Asian Winter Games) |
The Philippine men’s curling team delivered an unforgettable gold-medal performance on the final day of the 9th Asian Winter Games, defeating South Korea 5-3 in the championship match at the Pingfang Curling Arena in Harbin, China. This victory marks the Philippines’ first-ever gold medal in the Asian Winter Games, making the country the best-performing Southeast Asian nation in the history of the tournament. The team comprises of Marc Pfister (Skipper), Enrico Pfister (Second), Christian Haller (Vice Skipper), and Alan Frei (Lead) took an early 3-1 lead before South Korea tied the game at 3-3 after the sixth end. The Filipinos secured the last two ends, scoring one point each, to seal the 5-3 victory. The Philippines had lost 1-6 to South Korea in the round-robin stage but turned the tables in the final.
Pfister, a veteran with 26 years of experience in curling, expressed his confidence in the team, saying, “Gold medal for Team Philippines, and we expected ourselves to win. It’s not just any medal — it’s gold.” Marc’s 16-week pregnant wife, Jessica Pfister, served as the team’s coach and played a crucial role in their journey. “She inspired me throughout this tournament, and I dedicate this win to her and our upcoming baby.” Prior to the its golden moment, the national men's curling team finished 4-1 in the round robin stage, securing a qualification spot, then defeated Japan 10-4 in the quarterfinals and eventually edged past host China 7-6 in a tense battle in the semifinals. The Philippines is now the first Southeast Asian nation to win a gold medal in the Asian Winter Games. Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino celebrated the moment, saying, “We are so proud of this milestone. This gold is not just for the Philippines but for all of Southeast Asia.” The Philippine men’s curling team’s historic gold medal at the 9th Asian Winter Games has not only cemented the country’s dominance in Southeast Asian winter sports but also strengthened hopes for a future Winter Olympics medal.
Tolentino described the victory as both shocking and groundbreaking, saying, “This is too good to be true. Shocking, that’s the least I can say. Now, the path is clearer toward our first medal in the Winter Olympics.” Aside from the Philippines, Thailand also made history, winning its first-ever bronze medal through Thai-Frenchman Paul Vieuxtemps in men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle. Tolentino emphasized that the Philippines’ success in Harbin was a springboard for greater achievements, particularly at the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy on February 2026, saying, “I always believe the impossible can be achieved. We did it in Tokyo and Paris, and while it may not come in Italy next year, I believe we’re on the right track.” With the curling team’s gold medal performance, Tolentino remains optimistic about qualifying medal contenders for Italy. The Asian Winter Games occur only once every four years, making this victory a rare and significant milestone. The Philippines’ success in Harbin marks its strongest showing in winter sports history and the team’s ability to defeat world-ranked opponents proves that Filipino athletes can compete at the highest level in winter sports. While the curling team claimed the only medal for the Philippines, other Filipino athletes competed in various sports. These include:
• Curling Mixed Doubles: Marc Pfister and Kathleen Dubberstein finished 4th place
• Figure Skating: Sofia Frank (12th), Cathryn Limketkai (9th), Paolo Borromeo (10th), Isabella Gamez and Aleksander Korovin (4th in Pairs)
• Alpine Skiing: Tallulah Proulx (16th in women’s slalom), Francis Ceccarelli (Disqualified in men’s slalom)
• Short Track Speed Skating: Peter Groseclose (did not qualify for semifinals in all events)
• Freestyle Skiing: Laetaz Amihan Rabe (6th in both freeski slopestyle and big air)
The historic gold medal win has put Philippine curling on the map and opened the door for more support and development in winter sports. As the first-ever Southeast Asian gold medalists, the men’s curling team’s victory is expected to inspire future generations of Filipino athletes to compete on the global winter sports stage. Under Tolentino’s leadership, the Philippines has achieved historic Olympic milestones with Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo winning the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in weightlifting in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and securing Carlos Yulo secured two gold medals in gymnastics at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Now, Milano Cortina 2026 represents the next challenge with Philippine curling leading the way. On the significance of the curling gold medal, Tolentino said, “It’s that big. These games happen only once every four years, and it will take a while to do this again.” With momentum on their side, the Philippines is now looking ahead to future international competitions, with the ultimate goal of making history once again at the Winter Olympics.
