Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 19) – Filipino bowling legend Olivia “Bong” Coo has been selected as a commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the agency announced on Tuesday.
Coo met with PSC Officer-in-Charge and Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr. upon her appointment as one of the new commissioners of the national sports governing body.
The bemedaled 74-year-old bowling icon has a long list of accomplishments, including capturing eight gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games, 14 gold medals in the Asian Championships, five gold medals in the Asian Games, and three gold medals in the World Bowling Championships.
Coo is the first Filipino athlete to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records, which she did after scoring record scores in the All Events category of the 1979 World Championships in Manila and 1983 World Championships in Caracas, Venezuela.
The decorated Filipina sports icon is among the first inductees in the International Bowling Hall of Fame, along with fellow bowling star Paeng Nepomuceno. She had been inducted to the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
Prior to her appointment as PSC commissioner, Coo served as president of the Philippine Bowling Federation. She was elected as and became the first female chief of the national bowling governing body in June.
The new Marcos administration has yet to appoint other commissioners and the chairman of the PSC.
