I also got the chance to feature another Student-Athlete from Ateneo. She’s Nicole Taleon of the Blue Lady Paddlers. Here’s some things you might want to know about her.

image courtesy of ck chua of fabilioh.com

Name: Nicole Taleon
Birthday: Feb 7, 1988
Weight: 110 lbs
Height: 5’2

College Team: Ateneo Lady Paddlers
Former Clubs: SSA- Bacolod Table Tennis Team, SSA-Bacolod Swimming Team
Current Club: Ateneo Table Tennis Team
Sports: Table Tennis, Swimming
Jersey no: 7

How and why did you start playing your sport?
I was really a swimmer before i was a table tennis player. I started swimming competitively when I was 6 yrs old. Then I started playing table tennis when I was in 4th grade. I trained for both the school’s swimming and table tennis varsity team. I started swimming because I come from a family of swimmers. Table tennis? I really don’t remember why I started playing this sport. haha =)

Were you a varsity player during your elementary and high school days?
Yup, swimming and table tennis during elementary. Then just table tennis during high school.

How much do you usually spend playing sports?
For the past 3 years, 3-4 hours everyday. Right now, once a week. =(

Where do you usually play?
Blue Eagle Gym

What do you do when you’re not playing sports?
Sleep, Study, Gimik!

What are your greatest achievements/awards as an athlete?

1994 MILO (Bacolod) Swimming Champion
1995-2000 numerous swimming awards
1998,1999 NOPSSCEA Swimming champion
1999 NOPSSCEA Table tennis champion
2000-2004 variety of swimming and table tennis awards (cant remmber exactly)

Personally, I think my achievements are different from awards. Listed above are just awards. My greatest achievement as an athlete was (and still is) being able to balance my academics with sports. And of course, being part of a great team. ATENEO PADDLERS I LOVE!!

What’s your course? Are you enjoying it?
I’m done with my 4-year course. I’m in 1st yr Medicine proper right now

When you were a kid, what do you want to be? Are you fulfilling it? Or do you have plans of fulfilling it in the future?
I planned to be an astronomer or an astro-physicist at NASA. haha, no I’m not fulfilling it… YET. Maybe I could still work at NASA but as the resident doctor.

Is it hard balancing academics and athletics at the same time? How’s your studies?
VERY hard. Acads are O.K.

Thanks for granting me the opportunity to feature you here, Nicole and for your valuable time. I know medicine is quite a time chuncker as my twin brother and my big sister is and was a med student, too. Hope you continue playing your sports and God bless! And one last thing, always stay fit! – Galwin

Good thing I found the perfect subject today. Today’s featured student-athlete is Claire Kathleen Yu, she plays for the Ateneo Blue Eagles Table Tennis Team. Get to know more about this hardworking student-athlete through these short notes.

Name: Claire Kathleen Yu
Birthday: November 5, 1989
Weight: 110 lbs.
Height: 5’4”

College Team: Ateneo de Manila University
Former Clubs: Forehand Backhand Institute

How and why did you start playing your sport?
My dad made me play with the robopong while he was playing table tennis with his friends.

Were you a varsity player during your elementary and high school days?
I wasn’t.

How much do you usually spend playing sports?
I don’t know. Hahaha!

Where do you usually play?
Ateneo

What do you do when you’re not playing sports?
Study, sleep, and eat.

What are your greatest achievements/awards as an athlete?
Had lots of awards from target shooting (not from pingpong) haha.

What’s your course? Are you enjoying it? When you were a kid, what do you want to be? Are you fulfilling it? Or do you have plans of fulfilling it in the future?
BS Computer Engineering. No, I’m not enjoying it anymore.

Is it hard balancing academics and athletics at the same time? How’s your studies?
Yes.