By John Frierson
Staff Writer

As the first 25 years of the century come to a close, let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable moments, plays, seasons and achievements in Georgia athletics from 2000 through this year. There are far more than 25 worthy of remembering and relishing — a list of 100 certainly would have been possible — but below are 25 spread across all of the Bulldogs’ sports.

These aren’t ranked, just listed randomly, and quite a few humdingers, from Sony Michel’s game-winning touchdown run to win the Rose Bowl to a multitude of Olympic moments of glory by former Bulldogs, were left off to whittle the list down to 25. And at the rate that current and former Georgia student-athletes and teams are achieving great things, the list for 2050 is going to be spectacular.

25 Moments From The Past 25 Years

Football: Ringo Seals 2021 National Championship With INT

Let’s start with the one that probably comes to mind first for many Georgia fans. On Jan. 22, 2022, the Georgia football team captured its first national championship since 1980 with a 33-18 win over Alabama in Indianapolis. It was cornerback Kelee Ringo’s 79-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the game that sealed the victory — Georgia trailed 18-13 with 10:14 left in the game — and secured the Bulldogs’ long-awaited national title.

Equestrian: Program Makes Its Debut In 2002, Many Championships Follow

Georgia’s equestrian team didn’t have to wait long for its first national championship. The program was founded in June of 2001 and began competing in 2002 under the only head coach it has ever had, Meghan Boenig. The Bulldogs won the national title in their first two seasons and have added six more, including in 2025.

Baseball: 2008 Bulldogs Win All Major SEC Awards, Reach CWS Final

The 2008 season was a special one for Georgia baseball, with Gordon Beckham being named both the SEC Player of the Year and SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Joshua Fields named SEC Pitcher of the Year, and David Perno named the SEC Coach of the Year. The Bulldogs advanced all the way to the College World Series finals that season for the second-best finish in program history, and Beckham and Fields were later selected in the first round of the 2008 MLB Draft.

Softball: Puailoa Walk-Off Blast Beats No. 1 Florida, Sends Bulldogs to 2016 WCWS

On the other diamond, Georgia’s softball team advanced to the Women’s College World Series in dramatic fashion in 2016. Facing No. 1 Florida in Gainesville in the Super Regional, Kaylee Puailoa sent the 16th-seeded Bulldogs to Oklahoma City with a pinch-hit walk-off home run. Georgia won the first game in the series and was down 2-1 and down to its final strike against the two-time defending national champs when Puailoa hit a two-run blast over the wall in center field.

Men’s Tennis: Boeker Captures Triple Crown in 2001

One of the greatest players in Georgia tennis history, Matias Boeker not only led the Bulldogs to the 2001 NCAA team title, he also won the NCAA singles and doubles (with partner Travis Parrott) championships, In the modern era of NCAA men’s tennis, since 1977 when the team tournament was added, only two players before Boeker had ever achieved the triple crown — and nobody has done it since. Boeker won the NCAA singles title again in 2002, and he was inducted into the ITA Men’s Tennis Hall of Fame in 2017.

Track and Field: Women and Men Win NCAA Titles in 2018

It’s fair to say that 2018 was the best year ever in the long history of Georgia’s men’s and women’s track and field programs. At the NCAA Indoor Championships in March, the women’s team captured the program’s first national championship. In June, the men’s team won its first national title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. At the Indoors, Georgia went 1-2-3 in the long jump, with Kate Hall winning the title, Keturah Orji placing second and Tara Davis third, and Orji won her third straight triple jump title, to help propel the Bulldogs to the championship. At the Outdoors, Denzel Comenentia won the hammer throw and the shot put to help put Georgia on top.

Gymnastics: GymDogs Send Yoculan Leebern Out With Fifth Straight Title

The most accomplished program in Georgia history is gymnastics, which has won 10 NCAA team championships. On April 17, 2009, legendary coach Suzanne Yoculan Leebern ended her career with a fifth straight national title. From 1984-2009, Yoculan Leebern built Georgia into the gold standard of success, with 10 NCAA titles and 16 SEC crowns. The 2009 team featured five All-Americans, a record of 32-1, and a trio of individual NCAA titles for Courtney Kupets Carter (more on her later).

Swimming and Diving: Shealy, Kowal Lead Bulldogs to Second Straight NCAA Title

In 1999, Kristy Kowal won a pair of NCAA breaststroke titles to help lead the Georgia women’s program to its first national championship. The following year, the Bulldogs made it two in a row, with Kowal winning two more breaststroke titles and the 200-meter individual medley, as well as teaming up to win the medley relay. Courtney Shealy joined her on that winning relay squad and also won individual titles in two freestyle events and the 100 backstroke. The Georgia women made it three straight in 2001 and have added four more NCAA team titles since.

Women’s Tennis: Bulldogs Win Two National Titles in 2025

Georgia’s women’s tennis program has been a national powerhouse for the past three decades, but the 2025 season was one of the best in school history. The Bulldogs captured the ITA National Indoor title in February, dropping just two matches en route to the championship, and followed that by winning the SEC tournament and then storming through the NCAA tournament. In six NCAA matches, Georgia won five of them 4-0, including the final against rival Texas A&M, which had knocked off the Bulldogs in the 2024 NCAA final.

Soccer: Bulldogs Win Program’s First SEC Tournament in 2023

It didn’t take long for Keidane McAlpine to lead the Georgia soccer team to its first conference championship. Hired in December 2021, McAlpine began a swift turnaround in 2022 that included a return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2014. In 2023, the Bulldogs had their best season in program history, winning their first SEC East Division title and then winning the SEC tournament. Georgia rallied from deficits against Kentucky and Texas A&M to reach the title game, and then played stellar defense against Arkansas in the final to win 1-0. The Bulldogs went on to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament for only the second time in program history.

Women’s Golf: Bulldogs Surge Past Duke For 2001 NCAA title

At the 2001 NCAA Women’s Golf Championships, Georgia trailed Duke by four strokes heading into the final round before mounting a big rally to win the program’s first national title. The Bulldogs got off to a hot start and had moved ahead by three strokes by the sixth hole, and Duke never got closer than two strokes the rest of the way. Four golfers finished among the top 20 on the individual leaderboard, with Reilley Rankin tying for 10th, Laura Henderson and Angela Jerman tying for 13th and Summer Sirmons tying for 18th.

Men’s Basketball: Bulldogs Win Wild 2008 SEC Tournament

The 2008 SEC men’s basketball tournament was unlike any other. The event was disrupted by bad storms in the Atlanta area, forcing the games to move from the Georgia Dome to Georgia Tech’s Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Georgia won four games in three days to win the title, beating Ole Miss in overtime in the opening round. Before the Bulldogs tipped off against Kentucky, a tornado hit the Georgia Dome, delaying the game a day and forcing the move to Tech’s arena. Georgia beat Kentucky and Mississippi State on the same day, and then knocked off Arkansas in the final.

Women’s Basketball: Nolan and Miller Twins Selected In First Round of 2001 WNBA Draft

On April 20, 2001, Georgia’s Kelly and Coco Miller and Deanna Nolan were selected in the first round of the WNBA Draft. Nolan went on to win three WNBA titles with Detroit and was the Finals MVP in 2006, while Kelly Miller won a title with Houston in 2007. In the finals of the 2001 SEC tournament, Kelly Miller hit a jumper with .8 seconds left to beat Vanderbilt, 62-60, and lift the Lady Bulldogs to their first conference tourney title since 1986.

Volleyball: Record Crowd of 8,719 Packs The Steg

Playing in front of a record crowd of 8,719 fans at Stegeman Coliseum on Oct. 17, 2025, the Georgia volleyball team earned a 3-2 win over Alabama. The huge turnout set a new program and NCAA volleyball state attendance record, topping last season’s record high of 8,376. As senior Estelle Haugen said after the match, five-setters take their toll physically and mentally. “We felt the crowd push us to that five-set” victory, she said.

Men’s Golf: Bulldogs Capture Program’s Second NCAA Title in 2005

In 2005, men’s golf won the program’s second NCAA title, and head coach Chris Haack was named the National Coach of the Year. That team featured numerous future PGA Tour winners in Chris Kirk, Kevin Kisner and Brendon Todd. Those three, plus teammates Richard Scott and David Denham, were all named All-Americans.

Football: “Hobnail Boot” Play Beats No. 6 Tennessee in 2001

Any list of former Georgia radio legend Larry Munson’s greatest calls during his extraordinary career is going to include his classic play-by-play of Georgia’s 26-24 win at Tennessee on Oct. 6, 2001. After quarterback David Greene hit running back Verron Haynes in the end zone for a game-winning 6-yard touchdown with five seconds left, Munson produced one of the greatest lines ever: “We just stepped on their face with a hobnail boot and broke their nose — we just crushed their face!”

Men’s Tennis: Isner Leads Bulldogs To Undefeated Season In 2007

In 2006, the Georgia men’s tennis team was undefeated heading into the NCAA finals against Pepperdine. The Bulldogs came up short that day against the Waves, and star junior John Isner didn’t want to end his great Georgia career that way. Isner came back for his senior season rather than turning pro, and led the Bulldogs all the way to an undefeated season and the ITA National Indoor and NCAA team titles. Georgia was dominant throughout the 2007 season, going 32-0 despite playing 18 teams ranked in the top 25. Isner went on to a long pro career that included 16 tournament titles, reaching the finals of Wimbledon in 2018. and a career-high ATP Tour ranking of No. 8. Isner and legendary Georgia coach Manuel Diaz will be inducted into the ITA Hall of Fame in May 2026, when the NCAAs return to the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.

Swimming and Diving: Bulldogs Take Gold, Silver In 400 IM at 2021 Olympics

Former Georgia swimming and diving head coach Jack Bauerle had countless special moments in his long career, but few rival what happened at the Tokyo Olympics. On July 24, 2021, former Bulldogs Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland finished first and second in the men’s 400-meter individual medley. Kalisz, the silver-medalist in the event in 2016 and the NCAA champion in 2013 and ’16, was the heavy favorite in the event and won in 4:09.42. Litherland rallied in the final leg to place second with a time of 4:10.28. Another former Bulldog, Hali Flickinger, won bronze in the women’s 400 IM that same day.

Baseball: Condon Has Season For the Ages In 2024

In 2024, Charlie Condon had one of the best seasons ever, winning the Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award, the top awards in college baseball, and earning consensus National Player of the Year honors. He was the third player in NCAA Division I history to lead the country in batting (.433) and home runs (a school-record 37), and he led the nation in slugging percentage (1.009). And on July 14, he became the highest draft pick in program history when he was selected third overall by the Colorado Rockies.

Softball: In 2014, Georgia Won First SEC Softball Tournament Title

Entering the 2014 SEC softball tournament in Columbia, S.C., as the No. 5 seed, Georgia had to go through fifth-ranked Florida and sixth-ranked Alabama to advance to the title game. The Bulldogs blanked Florida 2-0 and knocked off the Crimson Tide 5-3, and then got a gem from pitcher Chelsea Wilkinson in the final against Kentucky. She struck out nine batters in the Bulldogs’ 5-2 win, while Geri Ann Glasco went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run and two RBIs to help lift the Bulldogs to their first SEC tourney title.

Track and Field: Orji Caps Legendary Career With Bowerman Award

On Dec. 20, 2018, Keturah Orji capped one of the greatest careers in Georgia athletics history by becoming the program’s first winner of The Bowerman award, which is the top honor in track and field. She was also named the 2018 NCAA Woman of the Year, and she helped the Bulldogs win the program’s first NCAA team title by winning the triple jump and placing second in the long jump. The most accomplished women’s field event student-athlete ever, she won seven NCAA triple jump titles (three indoor, four outdoor) and the outdoor long jump in 2018. Orji placed fourth in the triple jump in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, seventh at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and ninth in Paris in 2024.

Gymnastics: Kupets Carter Has Greatest Career In History

Courtney Kupets Carter is one of the greatest gymnasts in NCAA history. She won the Honda Award in 2007 and 2009, as well as the Honda Broderick Cup in 2009. A 2004 Olympian before she arrived at Georgia, Kupets Carter won NCAA all-around titles in 2006, ’07 and ’09, as well as the 2007 vault title, the 2009 floor title, and the bars and beam titles in 2006 and ’09. By the time Kupets Carter’s GymDogs career was over, she’d won three NCAA all-around titles (she missed one NCAAs with an injury), two bars titles, two beam titles, and one title each on bars and beam. She was also part of four straight national championship teams from 2006-09.

Swimming and Diving: Bauerle Leads US Women’s Team in Beijing Olympics

At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, Georgia’s Jack Bauerle was the head coach of the U.S. women’s team — a team that saw former Bulldog Kara Lynn Joyce earn two silver medals and Allison Schmitt earn a bronze. The American women won 14 medals in Beijing, the most of any nation. Eight other Bulldogs also swam in the Games. Bauerle also served as an assistant coach on U.S. squads at the 2000, 2016 and 2020 Games, and was a personal coach in 2004 and 2012. In 2022, Bauerle retired after 43 years, having led the Georgia women’s team to seven NCAA team titles (1999, 2000, ’01, ’05, ’13, ’14, ’16).

Women’s Tennis: Vidmanova Completes Career Triple Crown

Dasha Vidmanova did it all during her extraordinary Georgia women’s tennis career. In 2025, she wrapped up her time with the Bulldogs by leading the team to the ITA National Indoor and NCAA championships. In 2024, Vidmanova won a pair of NCAA titles, first capturing the program’s first doubles title with partner Aysegul Mert in May and then winning Georgia’s fourth NCAA singles crown in November. At the 2025 NCAA Championships, Vidmanova went undefeated in singles and doubles to earn MVP honors. She also won the Honda Award for women’s tennis for the 2024-25 season.

Football: Bulldogs Make It Two In A Row

On Jan. 9, 2023, the top-ranked Georgia football team dominated No. 3 TCU 65-7 in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., winning the first back-to-back national titles in the CFP era and securing an undefeated season at 15-0. It was a fitting finale for quarterback Stetson Bennett, who was named the Offensive Player of the Game in all four CPF games during the 2021 and ’22 seasons. Against TCU, Bennett threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns and ran for a pair of scores as the Bulldogs scored on their first six possessions to blow the game wide open from the outset. Defensive back Javon Bullard intercepted a pair of passes and recovered a fumble to earn Defensive Player of the Game honors.

Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men’s Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.

Montana State volleyball standouts Lauren Lindseth, Madilyn Siebler and Karli Heidemann were selected to the 2025-26 Academic All-District® Women’s Volleyball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognizing the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.

The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.

Lindseth, a Great Falls native, earned Second Team All-Big Sky Conference honors after guiding the Bobcats to their eighth straight Big Sky Conference Tournament appearance. Lindseth led in the Big Sky in overall and league matches, averaging 4.68 and 4.78 digs, respectively. She was also a four-time Big Sky Player of the Week honoree this past season.

Lindseth finished her career at MSU second in all-time digs with 1,987 saves. That total ranks fifth in Big Sky Conference history. The 5-9 libero also completed her career ranked ninth on MSU’s all-time ace chart with 124. She is a majoring in kinesiology/exercise science.

Siebler, a 5-10 outside hitter from Omaha, Neb., is a microbiology/pre-med major at Montana State. This past fall, she averaged 2.04 kills and 1.55 digs per set. She recorded a season-high 21 kills in Montana State’s 3-2 win over Montana in Missoula and notched a season-best 17 digs at Idaho State.

Heidemann, a 6-1 sophomore outside hitter from Diller, Neb., played and started in all 28 matches for MSU this fall. She finished the season with a team-best 323 kills, averaging 3.02 per set. In addition, she recorded 239 digs, averaging 2.23 per contest. Heidemann had a season-high 21 kills in MSU’s win over Northern Arizona and 18 digs at Portland State. She is a kinesiology/exercise science major.

 

HICKORY, N.C. – It was another great year for the Lenoir-Rhyne Athletics program. Lenoir-Rhyne students and faculty accomplished so much during the calendar year. Below are the top 10 stories of 2025.

#10 – Volleyball earns third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance

Head coach Nicole Barringer has the Lenoir-Rhyne volleyball team rolling. Under Barringer’s leadership the Bears advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season, a program first. They took down Lander 3-1 to advance to the third round for just the third time in Lenoir-Rhyne volleyball history. They posted an intense reverse sweep of Anderson to advance to their second consecutive SAC Championship. 

Individually, Emmaleigh Allen was named the South Atlantic Conference Volleyball Scholar Athlete of the Year, a Lenoir-Rhyne volleyball first. Five Bear were named to the All-SAC Team while Averie Dale, Kaylie Cleaver, and Hadley Prince were AVCA Honorable Mention All-Americans. 

#9 – Track and Field success

Lenoir-Rhyne Track & Field saw continued success this season, highlighted by the incredible performance of Alexis Brown. Brown set the NCAA DII records in the 100m (10.93), outdoor 200m (22.35), and indoor 200m (22.88). She won national titles in all those events, bringing her career total to eight national titles. Due to her accomplishments she was named the SAC Female Athlete of the Year, USTFCCCA National Track Athlete of the Year, and CWSA Honda DII Female Athlete of the Year. 

As a team the Bears were runner-ups on both the men’s and women’s side at both the indoor and outdoor championships. Oliver Thatcher and Miranda Marr were each named to the All-America Second Team in their respective multi events at the national championships, while the 4x100m team finished seventh at nationals, earning All-America First Team status. Joining them at the national championships was the women’s 4x400m team and Havyn Spain in the 400m. Both Spain and the 4x400m team set school records throughout the year.

#8 – Tye Roberson becomes first AFCA All-America First Team honoree since 2015

Tye Roberson was named to the AFCA, AP, and Don Hansen All-America First Team due to his excellence in the return game. The Laurens, South Carolina, native set a new program record with an average of 41.9 yards per kick return this season. That average led NCAA DII and was second amongst all NCAA division. He was one of just two NCAA DII athletes with three kick return touchdowns, returning one for 98 yards against Anderson, 87 yards against Mars Hill, and 95 yards vs. Catawba. He is the first AFCA First Team All-America honoree since offensive Joe Ray in 2015.

#7 – Softball wins back-to-back SAC Tournament Championships

For the 10th time in program history and the second consecutive year, the Lenoir-Rhyne softball team won the South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship. This was their first back-to-back title since they won four straight from 2010-13. Madison Wilson was named SAC Tournament MVP due to her incredible performances both on the mound and at the plate. Madison Primm and Lani Warren joined a prestigious group as they were named both NFCA All-Americans and CSC Academic All-Americans. During a win over Emory & Henry head coach Shena Hollar picked up her 1000th win at Lenoir-Rhyne, and her 1,063 career victories places her third among active NCAA DII coaches.

This season the Lenoir-Rhyne softball team played their games in the brand new McCrorie Family Stadium. This stadium sits in the upper echelon of NCAA DII, featuring stadium-style seating, extended dugouts, concession stand, two VIP viewing areas, and a brand new press box with included soundproof broadcast booth. The stadium is named in honor of Hank McCrorie ’60, and his wife, Bernice McRCrorie, who made the lead gift in support of the project. 

#6 – Women’s Soccer claims third NCAA Regional Title in five years

Despite both roster and coaching turnover, the Lenoir-Rhyne women’s soccer team continues to win. Head coach Justin Maullin and his squad finished with a record of 13-5-3 and won their third regional title in five years, taking down Columbus State (1-0), North Georgia (1-0), and Lander (1-0) en route to the championship. They would eventually fall 2-1 in the national quarterfinals to eventual national champion Florida Tech. Lenoir-Rhyne remains the only SAC school since 2017 to win a women’s soccer regional.

Seven Bears were named to the SAC All-Conference team, two on the first team, one on the second, and three on the third. This year was the program’s 17th full season (9-1-1 in shortened Covid year) that they finished with double-digit wins, a streak that dates back to 2008. Their NCAA tournament appearance was the program’s 12th, and sixth consecutive. Due to their on field accomplishments Lenoir-Rhyne finished the season ranked eighth in the United Soccer Coaches national poll.

#5 – Lenoir-Rhyne Administration leadership transition

2025 was a year for new leadership at Lenoir-Rhyne University, with Daron Montgomery ’95 completing his first year as Vice President for Athletics. Montgomery has provided stability and a renewed vision for LR’s Division II athletic programs. This milestone coincides with the inauguration of President Summer McGee and her first six months of leadership, during which Dr. McGee has set a clear strategic direction and energized the campus community. Together, their early tenures signal a promising future for collaboration and continued growth at Lenoir-Rhyne.

#4 – Women’s Triathlon wins third national title in four years

Head coach Harley Mason has built a dynasty in Hickory. Her Bears squad won their third DII Women’s Triathlon title in four years, avenging last year’s loss to Wingate with a four-point victory. Zoila Sicilia joined teammate Sabrina Fleig as the only women’s triathletes to win a national title, taking home the individual crown with a time of 1:03:59. Fleig finished runner-up behind Sicilia and Claudia Teran-Romagosa was fourth. All three were named CTCA First Team All-Americans, while Isis Gaskin was a Second Team honoree and Alex Linden an Honorable Mention. Coach Mason picked up her fourth consecutive National Coach of the Year award and has now taken home that honor every year she has coached the Bears.

#3 – Beyond the Bricks

Lenoir-Rhyne athletes excelled in the classroom, posting a 3.44 average GPA for the 2025 calendar year. 262 athletes posted 4.00 GPAs and 789 finished with at least a 3.50 in either the spring or fall semester. Every varsity team on campus had above a 3.00 team GPA. 21 teams posted at least a 3.50 in either the spring or fall semester. Additionally, LR won the South Atlantic Conference’s league-wide challenge for Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), an award based on participation in Play4Kay, Make-A-Wish, Team Impact, Community Service, and overall sports GPA.

#2 – Men’s Basketball’s run to the Elite Eight

Head coach Brent Owen and staff led the Bears to arguably their best season in program history in 2024-25, setting a program record for wins (29) and advancing to the NCAA DII Elite Eight for the first time in program history. Lenoir-Rhyne brought home their first SAC Tournament Championship since 2003 with an 82-78 comeback victory over Lincoln Memorial in the championship. The run continued a week later when the Bears won their first NCAA Southeast Regional championship thanks to a 76-73 overtime victory over UNC Pembroke. 

For his efforts coach Owen was named South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year and NABC Southeast District Co-Coach of the Year. Ziare Wells, Hantz Louis-Jeune, and Conrad Luczynski were named to the All-SAC Team, with Wells being named SAC Newcomer of the Year and SAC Tournament MVP. Luczynski scored 60 points over three games in the Southeast Regional and was named Tournament MVP. 

#1 – Baseball’s magical run to national semi-finals

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Adam Skonieczki, the Lenoir-Rhyne baseball team put together a magical season that saw them advance all the way to the national semi-finals. The Bears finished runners-up to Catawba in both the South Atlantic Conference regular season and tournament championships. After breezing through the NCAA Southeast Regional at Belmont Abbey, Lenoir-Rhyne won their final two games in a best-of-three series at Catawba to claim the first NCAA Southeast Regional Championship in program history. Lenoir-Rhyne went 2-2 at the NCAA Championships, coming within one game of the championship series. They finished the year with a No. 4 ranking by the NCBWA.

This offense was quite possibly the most potent in NCAA DII history, as they finished the season ranked first in DII history in home runs (137), third in total bases (1,365), eighth in RBI’s (570), and 20th in slugging percentage (.617). Mackenzie Wainwright set new NCAA DII records for hits (121) and total bases (234), and is third all time in runs (102). Wainwright, Sal Carricato, and Cole Stanford were all named All-Americans and Stanford became the first Bear to ever be honored with Academic All-American status. Wainwright was named the Southeast Regional Player of the Year by the D2CCA, NCBWA, and ABCA and Adam Skonieczki was the ABCA Region Coach of the Year and Perfect Game National Coach of the Year.

LARA LIWANAG ON I-LISTEN: STRENGTH, PURPOSE, AND FIGHTING FOR FILIPINO ATHLETES

Episode dropping this Wednesday December 31, 2025 5PM on GMA Public Affairs Youtube Channel, Spotify and Apple Podcast

 

 

 

The upcoming episode of I-Listen spotlights Lara Liwanag—elite CrossFit athlete, coach, and advocate for inclusive sports—whose journey proves that strength goes far beyond physical power.

Known as the “clutch queen” after her standout performance on Physical: Asia, Lara represented the Philippines on an international stage, competing against some of the strongest athletes in the region. Despite being underdogs with no combat sports background, Lara and her teammate pushed through fear, injury, and pressure to give an all-out performance for the country. “Manalo man o matalo,” Lara says, “we did it for the Philippines.”

 

Beyond competition, Lara opens up about her long road as an athlete—from childhood dreams of representing the country, to becoming a national CrossFit champion, to facing injuries, setbacks, and online criticism. A registered nurse by profession, Lara chose to follow her true calling in fitness, even when others questioned her path. “Everything happens for a reason,” she shares. “Nandito ako ngayon dahil may purpose.”
 

 

Today, Lara is not only an athlete but a mentor. Through her gym and grassroots training initiatives with Olympian Hidilyn Diaz, she coaches children—many from underprivileged backgrounds—free of charge, helping them discover their potential through sports. Her advocacy highlights a pressing issue: the lack of support and funding for Filipino athletes, despite the abundance of raw talent across the country.

In her I-Listen interview, Lara delivers a powerful message to young women and aspiring athletes: strength is beautiful, fitness is for everyone, and confidence is built by simply starting. “Kung kaya ko, kaya niyo rin,” she says.

Dropping this Wednesday, December 31, 2025, this episode of i-Listen is a story of grit, faith, and purpose—reminding us that real strength lies in perseverance, service, and lifting others as you rise.