MANILA, Philippines — Toni Leviste is again within the saddle and she or he continues to make historical past.
The Filipina equestrian trailblazer carved out one other historic feat, this time on the planet of dressage, changing into the primary Filipino rider to win a global dressage competitors in Europe with a first-place end within the FEI Prix St. Georges class on the Flemalle CDN in Belgium.
Aboard Lacoste 126, a Hanoverian gelding, Leviste posted a profitable rating of 68.603 %, surpassing the 67 % SEA Video games qualifying mark set by the Equestrian Affiliation of the Philippines.
The landmark win not solely secured her qualification to the 2025 Southeast Asian Video games in Thailand but in addition added one other milestone to her storied profession.
Leviste’s efficiency impressed four-star FEI judges F. Mleyman and Michel Bouvy, who ranked her forward of a aggressive subject of European riders.
It’s the primary time a Filipino equestrian has topped an FEI-level dressage occasion in Europe – an achievement cementing Leviste’s legacy as a pioneer in Philippine equestrian sports activities.
On her transition to dressage, Leviste mentioned: “I need to prolong my using profession and signify my nation in additional equestrian disciplines around the globe. I’m a Filipino athlete in my coronary heart and soul.”
Identified for breaking boundaries, Leviste was the primary Filipino equestrian to compete within the Olympics, representing the nation within the 2000 Sydney Video games. She additionally earned a silver medal on the 2002 Asian Video games, competed in two World Championships, the FEI World Finals, and has collected quite a few SEA Video games medal in present leaping.
