Simeon Galvez TORIBIO

After his success at the 1932 Games, Simeon Toribio was selected as the Filipino flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony in Berlin. From 1921-34, he won five gold medals (1921, 1923, 1927, 1930, 1934) at the Far Eastern Games, the precursor to today’s Asian Games. In 1930 he was awarded the title “Asia’s Greatest Athlete.” He later became a lawyer and Congressional representative for the province of Bohol in the Parliament of the Philippines from 1941-53. During the War, he narrowly escaped being arrested by the Japanese Military Police. The Japanese officer saw one of his souvenirs from a competition in Japan, and because of that and the fact that it was the emperor’s birthday, Toribio was released.

Personal Best: HJ – 2.00 (1930).