By MARK REY MONTEJO
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu – Karateka Jamie Lim admitted she is uncertain at the moment if she could still be able to compete for the national team in this year’s Southeast Asian Games in Thailand due to her tight schedule.
The 27-year-old standout said she currently juggles her national team duties and her current job as a data analyst.
“I’m still in the team right now so I’m just continuing training. Right now, I don’t know yet because of my job,” said Lim after the MILO Active Pilipinas launch at Mandaue City Central School last weekend.
“Let’s see where the wind takes me. But right now, I’m still training hard, making sure I’m prepared for anything that I decide to do…” she added.
While nothing is final yet, the daughter of the late PBA legend Samboy Lim tries her best to fulfill her duties with the national team, and is thankful for the consideration of her employer in helping her deal with her hectic schedule.
“Actually, my job is very understanding. They know that I’m a national athlete and they got me because they believe in the values that I believe in as well, that national athletes are hard workers and achievers also,” Lim said.
“So they’re very understanding about if I have training, at this time they won’t set meetings for me… But still, it’s a great life and work balance because I got this job that I love,” she added.
She hasn’t figured out her competition lineup, but Lim said her door is always open to compete again especially in the SEAG, where she won the gold medals in the women’s 61kg kumite event of the 2019 and 2023 editions.
After all, having a busy schedule was nothing new for Lim. She has been with the PH team while she was finishing her BS Mathematics degree and earning a summa cum laude at the University of the Philippines in college.
Lim said being an athlete has always been in her blood, especially growing up and watching her father make a mark in the PBA.
“So my dad was my idol growing up. He was so hardworking and that’s what I wanted to be an athlete. So nagti-train ako just like him and nakikita ko marami siyang fans,” she said.
“It’s my dream to be able to inspire people, kahit isa lang, and to see that there’s so many kids who are kinikilig when they see me or they actually enjoy and they look up to me,” she added.
