Identical twins Joshua and Jasper Casino have been graced with likeness beyond just physical features. As early as five years old, they took their similarity up a notch when they both started to exhibit promising potential as swimmers.

 

Now, at 19, their dedication to the sport has evidenced itself in their broad and pronounced shoulders typical of a swimmer’s physique, in their impressive strokes honed by hundreds of training hours, and in the numerous medals they have acquired over the years.

 

Their involvement with the sport, however, has been one initially necessitated by a tragic incident that came before them, and a parent’s trauma.

 

“Pinag-swimming lessons kami ni Mama kasi ‘yong panganay naming kapatid nalunod,” shared Jasper, the Casino twin older by a minute.

 

Originally their mother’s way of safeguarding them, they have soon developed an unusual eagerness during swimming lessons. They seemed to reveal a remarkable aptitude for it as well, and at six years old, they began competing in beginner meets.

 

Like most of those who venture into the world of athletics, they shared that their careers as student-athletes haven’t always been a series of wins. There are those better and quicker than they are, even if that translates to a mere 0.1-second difference.

 

“Noong nagsi-simula pa ‘lang kami, wala pa kaming pakialam about sa pagkatalo kasi bata pa kami, nag-e-enjoy ‘lang kami,” said Joshua. “Pero katagalan, nagiging big deal na rin siya, kasi syempre ilang months kang naghanda tapos matatalo ka.”

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Even so, the twins’ trick to a smooth trajectory is to never take defeats too much to heart.

 

They do fall victim to low spirits, as is inevitable; but losses have always fueled their desire to surpass themselves and train harder. In the name of improving one’s craft, they emphasized that one must be willing to get a fair share of both triumphs and tribulations.

 

Such kind of mindset has clearly paid off.

 

By the time they were in Grade 5, Joshua and Jasper have both been qualified to represent their region, Region IV-A (CALABARZON), in the highly-regarded Palarong Pambansa. Together, they bagged the first place in the relay event.

 

The Palarong Pambansa is an annual multi-sport event for elementary and secondary level student-athletes from all 17 regions of the country. To qualify for the event, athletes must first climb their way to the top during the provincial and regional athletic meets. Since their first Palarong Pambansa stint, the Casino twins have been able to achieve such feat consistently until they finished high school at San Beda University, which recruited them to be part of its varsity swimming team.

 

“Nakakatuwa kasi nakakalaban namin ‘yung mga taga-ibang regions na malalakas sa Palarong Pambansa. Naging motivation namin ‘yung maging kasabayan sila,” said Joshua.

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Such as in any sport or endeavor, gruesome trainings are necessary for one to excel.

 

Joshua and Jasper train twice a day from 4 to 7 in the morning and from 3 to 5 in the afternoon, which usually leaves them already feeling spent well before evenings.

 

The time and physical demands as well as this commitment’s repetitive nature continue to test their resilience, and yet, the twins maintained that these trials are nothing compared to the rewards. It is in the couple of hours spent practicing underwater that they really get to work on their weaknesses and stretch their limitations.

 

They have found their niche in different strokes—Joshua is more adept at the butterfly stroke, while Jasper has found proficiency in the breaststroke. They are both skilled in the freestyle, however, and after swimming in different individual categories, they usually compete in the same four-person team for the relay race at the end of every competition.

 

A particular event that they have come to regard most fondly was the 2013 Palarong Pambansa held in Dumaguete City.

 

There, in the midst of race-time adrenaline and the crowd of people that have amassed to see them compete, they were able to beat all 16 other regions in the 4x50 freestyle relay race, including the National Capital Region (NCR) team which has long been known to be a frontrunner in the annual sports event.

 

“Sobrang daming malalakas. Di naman namin in-expect na mananalo kami,” said Jasper.

 

The following year, they made history – along with their two other teammates – with a record-setting win in the same Palarong Pambansa relay event held at Laguna, the twins’ province. Two years later, in Davao, they were among those who set yet another record for freestyle relay.

 

“Bago ka lumangoy, nando’n ‘yong lahat eh—kaba, adrenaline rush, excitement. Pero simula ng pag-dive mo, nawawala na ‘yon. Tapos ‘pag natouch mo na [‘yong wall] at alam mo na kayo ‘yung unang natapos, ‘di mo na ma-explain eh. ‘Di mo alam, maiiyak ka ba sa tuwa,” shared Joshua.

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Despite playing the same sport and possibly being subjected to comparisons, the twins don’t consider their situation a cause for rivalry.

 

“Nag-aasaran kami, pero kumbaga ‘yon ‘yong form of motivation namin sa isa’t-isa,” said Joshua.

 

Now, Joshua and Jasper train alongside their teammates in the San Beda University Sea Lions, which currently holds a 16-peat championship title in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Men Swimming Division after bagging the championship every year since 2002.

 

It’s an exceptional challenge to be among those expected to sustain the school’s 16-year swim dynasty. However, always set on achieving greater heights, they carry with them an unbridled quality—some mixture of competitiveness and a constant stream of eyes-on-the-prize mentality that allow them to push past their self-doubt.

 

“Goal namin talaga is ‘yong mas gumaling pa lumangoy. Magka-medal pa, mag-set ulit ng record, at malay mo, makapag-compete sa Southeast Asian (SEA) Games,” the twins shared.

 

In a way that is less fleeting than the competition day itself, the culmination of both their losses and their victories not only strengthen their links as brothers, but also solidify their already unflagging passion for the sport, driving them to swim forward like well-oiled, goal-driven engines underwater.

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