The Next Wave: Filipino Groms Making a Splash

Different sports, different challenges — but the same drive to compete, push limits and dream big. Meet two of the Filipino sports groms making waves at home and beyond.

While most teens spend their downtime hanging out or scrolling, one hits the pool and another takes to the open water with a board and sail. Introducing Jamesray Ajido and Jade Justiniane, two young Filipino athletes taking their talents from Philippine waters to the world.

 

MEET JAMESRAY: THE “STING RAY”

At just 17, Jamesray Mishael Ajido is already one of Philippine swimming’s brightest young stars — and it all started because his mom wanted him off his gadgets.

He began swimming at eight, quickly caught a coach’s eye, and soon started winning. In 2024, Jamesray made history by capturing the Philippines’ first gold at the Asian Age Group Swimming Championships, breaking the meet record in the 100m butterfly with a time of 55.98 seconds. He also took silver in the 50m butterfly.

The medals kept coming. Jamesray won silver at the 2025 Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, then kicked off 2026 with gold in both the 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly at the National Long Course Age-Group Championships.

Now comes his biggest stage yet: Jamesray has officially earned a spot at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, where he will represent the Philippines in the 100m butterfly.

Behind every split second are early mornings, endless laps and schoolwork squeezed in between. Not bad for a kid who originally got into the pool just to get off his gadgets.

 

MEET JADE: CATCHING THE WIND

While Jamesray races against the clock, 15-year-old Jade Justiniane races with the wind.

One of the Philippines’ rising young windsurfers, Jade has already taken her board beyond home waters. She recently competed at the T293 and T293 Plus European Championships in Sopot, Poland, finishing 24th overall while gaining valuable experience against an international field.

And bigger things are coming. Jade has qualified to represent the Philippines at both the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan and the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar — two major milestones for an athlete still only 15.

Her sport demands speed, strength, balance and a fearless relationship with the elements. There are no lane lines here — just a board, a sail and the ability to read the wind and waves as they change.

 

TWO ATHLETES. TWO VERY DIFFERENT KINDS OF WATER.

One dives under the water. The other flies across it.

One watches the clock. The other watches the wind.

One needs a perfectly marked lane. The other needs open water.

Yet what connects them is much bigger than their choice of sport. Both discovered something they loved while they were young — and then put in the work required to become genuinely good at it. Because talent might get a young athlete noticed. But it’s the alarm clocks, training sessions, missed hangouts, competitions, losses, nerves and the decision to show up again tomorrow that turn talent into something more.

 

AND THEY’RE JUST GETTING STARTED

Perhaps that’s the most exciting thing about following young athletes like Jamesray and Jade: we don’t know the ending yet.

For now, Jamesray will keep chasing milliseconds.

Jade will keep chasing the wind.

And we’ll be watching two young Filipinos do what they already know how to do very well: Make waves.

 

XOXO,

Team Parasol Y Mar