Filipino Olympian Toni Leviste made history after emerging as the first Filipino to clinch a victory in an international dressage event held in Europe.
According to a report by GMA News Online, Leviste topped the FEI Prix St. George dressage class during the Flemalle CDN competition in Belgium last Saturday. She posted a score of 68.603%, surpassing the 67% qualifying mark set by the Equestrian Association of the Philippines for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games.
The milestone win also secured her a spot in the biennial regional sporting event.
Leviste, who previously won silver at the 2002 Asian Games and represented the Philippines at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, rode a Hanoverian gelding named Lacoste 126 during her winning performance.
She outperformed Belgian riders Anneleen Wagemans (66.544%) and Laurens Vanderbeeken (65.956%), who finished second and third, respectively.
The seasoned equestrienne recently shifted her focus to dressage—a discipline that emphasizes precise, graceful movements between horse and rider, as explained by Equestrian Australia.
