AKIKO THOMSON SHARES HER LIFE’S BATTLES, AN OLYMPIAN FOR LIFE! | Bernadette Sembrano

It was before she got her OLYMPIAN FOR LIFE award that I messaged Akiko Thomson Guevara for an interview. I am so blessed that she said yes!!! Salamat sa Probe Productions connection namin (I was CheChe Lazaro’s Probe Team reporter and she was a host of Game Plan).

May trangkaso pa siya but she graciously obliged to go with our interview and welcomed us into her home. I met her husband, Chips, who is the Chairman of Child Hope Asia, an NGO that helps street children. I also met her beautiful children—Noah and Elijah, who are into football, and Sachiko, who loves the water (and hopefully joins the Special Olympics someday!).

What happens to the life of an Olympian when they retire?

Akiko was lost, went through depression, but slowly found her way as a host, reporter, government official, established a swimming school, and is now involved in Special Olympics!

This is the first time I got to talk to Akiko this way, and WOW! Be inspired by her generous spirit!

Tara, get to know the other side of Akiko Thomson Guevara! Bakit nga ba siya OLYMPIAN FOR LIFE?

#BernadetteSembrano #AkikoThomson #Olympian

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction
1:52 Meet Akiko's husband and kids
3:06 Filipino by heart
4:23 How Akiko started her swimming career + an athlete's challenges
7:47 Akiko and Chip's first date
9:36 Olympian for Life award
10:35 Akiko's current engagements
13:19 What are you grateful for? + message from her kids
14:23 Meet Sachiko, Akiko's daughter
16:53 An athlete's retirement
18:27 Meet Akiko's supportive household
20:09 Message to her co-Olympians and to aspiring athletes

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