MANILA — Bacolod’s rising swimming star Coraline Montalbo delivered a breakout international performance, capturing three bronze medals in the 2026 Chinese Taipei Age Groups Finswimming Competition over the weekend in Taipei to further boost her campaign ahead of the Palarong Pambansa.
The 14-year-old Bacolod Tay Tung High School standout clinched podium finishes in the 4×100-meter surface relay, 200-meter bi-fins, and 50-meter events, showcasing her growing competitiveness against international opposition.
Her strong showing abroad came on the heels of a dominant stint in the 2026 Negros Island Region Athletic Association (NIRAA) Meet in Bacolod City, where she secured two gold medals and stamped her class in the pool.
Montalbo ruled the girls’ secondary 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:39.56, a victory that earned her a berth in the upcoming Palarong Pambansa.
She also anchored Bacolod City’s gold medal finish in the secondary girls’ 4×100-meter medley relay, teaming up with Savannah Secuelan, Rhianne Gonzales, and Anika Kathryn Matiling to post a winning time of 4:58.33.
With consistent podium finishes in both local and international competitions, Montalbo continues to emerge as one of Bacolod’s most promising young swimmers.
Her recent success also follows her inclusion in the national training pool under the Philippine Finswimming Federation Inc. (PFF), where she now trains regularly in Metro Manila as part of the federation’s development program./PN
