Jessie Lacuna

Jessie Khing de Guzman Lacuna ( ; born December 23, 1993) is a Filipino former competitive swimmer who competed in the freestyle and butterfly events.

Lacuna had a total of 51 gold medals, consisting of 35 at national and 16 at international titles.

Early life Lacuna was born and raised in Barangay Paltao, Pulilan, Bulacan. At the age of 6, he already started joining swimming competitions at school. His first win at a national event took him into various other national competitions, including the Philippine Olympic Festival. Although, that time lacuna was expecting only 11 gold to bring home, however, the two breaststroke events was folded gold at 100m and 200m breaststroke. He joins as his first entry in Philippine Olympic Festival competitions represented in Bulacan which were held at Vigan, Ilocos Sur in 2007. He races the events of 400 Individual Medley, 400 m Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 200 m Breaststroke, 200 m Butterfly and 100 m Freestyle. In 400 LC Meter Medley Relay, Lacuna grouped Gerard Gelanga, Gene Ryan Ebue and Fritz Marnold Agapay who are at 4th where 5:12.43 in final time. Hither, on the other hand lacuna bestowed "CLRAA Consistent Highest Pointer" as of Most Valuable Player in swimming where his points from 3rd Grade school to High school made him focal by region. He started swimming at Bacolod, Panaad Swimming Pool where he competed in the 200 m Freestyles, 100 m breastroke, and 50 m Freestyle events.

On the first day of the event, Lacuna competed in the 200 LC Meter Freestyle at 1:55.94 that best a qualifying entry-time.

At Nationals day two, in the event 200 LC Meter Individual Medley he has gold at 2:11.76 time with a straight winning of 50 LC Meter Breaststroke at 00:31.89 clocked.

SEA Games At the 25th Southeast Asian Games, lacuna silvered the 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay. Lacuna batched Ryan Arabejo, Charles Walker, and Miguel Molina in Philippine Team. However, he represented the Philippines with silver as of 1:52.23 in the event 200m freestyle. Also, he adds two bronze at 4 × 100 m and 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relays.

Lacuna sets his new national(Philippine) record in 2013 Southeast Asian Games. He clocked 00:51.52 seconds in 100 meter freestyles but fall through finishes 5th in finals.

2011 World Aquatics Championships In 14th FINA World Championship in Shanghai, China in 2011, Lacuna however only hits heats qualifier wherein he did not advance at the competition. Indeed, he represents as a Philippine competitor who buckle-up to raise its mark.

2012 Summer Olympics In the 2012 London Olympic Games, Lacuna was his Olympic debut participation in one swimming event, the 200-meter freestyle competition. The Philippine Olympic Committee sent him to London after he was given a wild-card slot. Lacuna then was currently holding the record as the fastest Filipino swimmer, wherein he added two gold medals to his national games haul, and will also the youngest Filipino contingent participating in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Nevertheless, at the heat's results, Lacuna made ranked 36 that clocked 1:54.23 with difference at +3.07 where he swim short course racing at lane 6. In contrast, lacuna's coach, Pinky Brosas stated that he was speedy at 100 meters but race inconsistent at the rest meters, coach Brosas adds through Lacuna's excitement and adrenaline-rush was his grounds to speed on the first half, although, he was in the mark of his presentation to learn the consequence.

2013 Philippine National Games In the 2013 Philippine National Games, Lacuna bags 9 gold medals that was includes 100-meter butterfly with 58.62 seconds, 200m individual medley in 2:13.39 minutes, 50m freestyle in 24.64 seconds and 100m breaststroke in 1:11.55 minutes.

2016 Summer Olympics

UAAP Lacuna was awarded as co-Athlete of the Year for the Individual Sports category in the UAAP Season 78.

Retirement On December 12, 2019, after his final game in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, Lacuna announced his retirement from the national team after swimming for 10 years

Records

Personal Bests

International Achievements

Personal life Growing up, Lacuna's two elder brothers, Billy and Dexte, were his inspiration to be determined in being successful in swimming.

Physique In swimming, Lacuna suits for a young Filipino athlete physical attribution. once he became a member of the national swimming team.