Asa Miller
{{Short description|Filipino American alpine skier}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox alpine ski racer
|gender=m
|name = Asa Miller
|image =
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|disciplines = Giant slalom, slalom
|club = Snowbird Sports Education Foundation (SBSEF)
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|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|6|14}}
|birth_place = Portland, Oregon, U.S.
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|olympicteams = 2 – (2018, 2022)
|olympicmedals =
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}}
Asa Bisquera Miller (born June 14, 2000) is a Filipino American alpine skier who competed for the Philippines at the Winter Olympics in the giant slalom and slalom. He competed in the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics, also serving as the flagbearer for his country during the respective game's opening ceremonies. He previously participated in the 2017 World Junior Alpine Skiing Championships in Sweden.
Early life and education
Miller was born on June 14, 2000{{cite web|title=Athlete Profile: Asa Miller|url=https://www.olympic.org/pyeongchang-2018/results/en/alpine-skiing/athlete-profile-n3029250-asa-miller.htm|work=PyeongChang 2018|publisher=International Olympic Committee|accessdate=February 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210235124/https://www.olympic.org/pyeongchang-2018/results/en/alpine-skiing/athlete-profile-n3029250-asa-miller.htm|archive-date=February 10, 2018|url-status=unfit}} in Portland, Oregon, in the United States, where he also spent his childhood. His father is Kelly Miller, a ski patroller in Mount Hood{{cite news |title=Miller's humble beginnings from fast ball to skiing |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1167290 |work=Philippine News Agency|access-date=February 8, 2022 |language=en}} while his mother is Polly Bisquera whose roots traces to Santa Cruz, Manila, in the Philippines.{{cite news |last1=Henson |first1=Joaquin |title=Winter miracle in Beijing? |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2022/01/21/2155276/winter-miracle-beijing |access-date=January 21, 2022 |work=The Philippine Star |date=January 21, 2022}} His first experience in skiing was when he was 1½ years old.{{cite news|last1=Geist|first1=Luke|title=Senior prepares to compete in the Olympics|url=https://cardinaltimes.org/11709/sports/senior-prepares-to-compete-in-the-olympics/|accessdate=February 9, 2018|work=The Cardinal Times|date=November 29, 2017}}
He studied at Lincoln High School in Portland for his secondary education.{{cite news|last1=Satumbaga|first1=Kristel|title=Fil-Am skier tries to defy odds|url=https://sports.mb.com.ph/2018/02/09/fil-am-skier-tries-to-defy-odds/|accessdate=February 9, 2018|work=Manila Bulletin|date=February 9, 2018|archive-date=June 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622164546/https://sports.mb.com.ph/2018/02/09/fil-am-skier-tries-to-defy-odds/|url-status=dead}} He would play baseball for Lincoln from 2015 to 2016 as a catcher. However, Miller focused on pursuing a career in competitive alpine skiing.{{cite news |last1=Villar |first1=Joeu |title=Skier Asa Miller's other love is baseball |url=https://www.bworldonline.com/skier-asa-millers-other-love-is-baseball/ |access-date=10 February 2022 |work=BusinessWorld |date=8 February 2022}}{{cite news |title=How Asa Miller developed into a two-time Olympic skier |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/08/22/how-asa-miller-developed-into-a-two-time-olympic-skier |access-date=10 February 2022 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=8 February 2022}} As of February 2018, he was in his senior year. He is currently attending Westminster College in Salt Lake City.
Career
Asa Miller credits his father for influencing him to participate in competitive alpine skiing.{{cite news |last1=Yumol |first1=David Tristan |title=Asa Miller credits father for skiing influence |url=https://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2022/2/9/Asa-Miller-credits-father-for-skiing-influence.html |access-date=10 February 2022 |work=CNN Philippines |date=9 February 2022 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was part of the Portland-based Mt. Hood Meadows race team, and has been on the team for about a decade as of 2018.{{cite news|last=Dooris|first=Pat|title=Portland high school senior to represent the Philippines at Olympics|publisher=KGW|date=January 23, 2018|location=Portland, Oregon|url=http://www.kgw.com/article/news/portland-high-school-senior-to-represent-the-philippines-at-olympics/283-510654310|accessdate=February 9, 2018}} He was eight years old{{cite news|last1=Matel|first1=Philip|title=PH Olympic pride rests on 17-year old Asa Miller's shoulders|url=https://sports.abs-cbn.com/generalsports/news/2018/01/20/ph-olympic-pride-rests-17-year-old-asa-miller-s-shoulders-36385|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209122227/https://sports.abs-cbn.com/generalsports/news/2018/01/20/ph-olympic-pride-rests-17-year-old-asa-miller-s-shoulders-36385|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 9, 2018|accessdate=February 9, 2018|work=ABS-CBN Corporation|date=January 20, 2018}} when he participated in his first race. His coaches at Mt. Hood Meadows are Erik Gilbert, AJ Kitt, and Brad Saxe. He trained two seasons with the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club and is currently a member of Snowbird Sports Education Foundation.
=Junior World Championships=
At the 2017 World Junior Alpine Skiing Championships in Åre, Sweden, Miller was among the participants. He competed for the Philippines in the slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and alpine combined, but he only finished the slalom. Miller ranked 39th among skiers who finished the slalom.
=Winter Olympics=
Miller realized in 2016 that he could compete for the Philippines in the Winter Olympics. He has dual citizenship for the U.S. and the Philippines,{{cite news|last=McCord|first=AJ|title=Portland teen to ski for Philippines in Olympics|publisher=KOIN|date=January 26, 2018|location=Portland, Oregon|url=http://www.koin.com/sports/athlete-of-the-week/portland-teen-to-ski-for-philippines-in-olympics/941005320|accessdate=February 9, 2018}} the latter acquired from his mother.{{cite news|author=KGW staff|title=Oregon athletes in PyeongChang|publisher=KGW|date=February 9, 2018|location=Portland, Oregon|url=http://www.kgw.com/article/sports/olympics/oregon-athletes-in-pyeongchang/283-515728856|accessdate=February 9, 2018}}
Miller qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, by accumulating sufficient points set by the International Ski Federation.{{cite news|last1=Bonilla|first1=Ramon Rafael|title=Martinez, Miller in Korea|url=https://businessmirror.com.ph/martinez-miller-in-korea/|accessdate=February 9, 2018|work=BusinessMirror|date=February 7, 2018}} For his qualification he participated in races within the United States as well as in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden. He was coached by AJ Kitt, who has represented the United States in four Winter Olympics,{{cite news|last1=Krupke|first1=Nick|title=Lincoln HS senior Asa Miller to ski in the Olympics for the Philippines|url=http://www.kptv.com/story/37424904/lincoln-hs-senior-asa-miller-to-ski-in-the-olympics-for-the-philippines|accessdate=February 9, 2018|publisher=KPTV|location=Portland, Oregon|date=February 5, 2018}} as well as by Erik Gilbert and Brad Saxe. For his 2018 Olympic qualification and journey, his family held a fundraising campaign through GoFundMe, while the Philippine Olympic Committee funded his Olympic participation expenses.
Miller is one of only two athletes representing the Philippines at the 2018 Winter Olympics, the other being Michael Christian Martinez.{{cite news|last=Satumbaga|first=Kristel|title=Norovirus downs 128 ahead of opening in Pyeongchang|newspaper=Manila Bulletin|date=February 10, 2018|url=https://sports.mb.com.ph/2018/02/10/norovirus-downs-128-ahead-of-opening-in-pyeongchang/|accessdate=February 10, 2018}} He was the flag bearer for his country in the opening ceremony,{{cite news|last=Parry|first=Richard|title=Every flag bearer at Winter Olympics 2018 opening ceremony|newspaper=London Evening Standard|date=February 9, 2018|location=UK|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/every-flag-bearer-at-the-winter-olympics-2018-opening-ceremony-a3762216.html|accessdate=February 9, 2018}} on February 9 and the closing ceremony on February 25.{{cite web|title=Closing Ceremony Flagbearers - Olympic Winter Games, PyeongChang 2018|url=https://stillmed.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/Games/Winter-Games/Games-PyeongChang-2018-Winter-Olympic-Games/Ceremonies/PyeongChang-2018-Closing-Ceremony-Flag-Bearers.pdf#_ga=2.113408207.917758768.1519568732-1155673656.1518304175|publisher=International Olympic Committee|accessdate=February 26, 2018}}
His only participation at the games was in the giant slalom event, which took place on February 18. He concluded his participation in the race with a time of 2:49.95, ranking 70th out of 110 participants.{{cite web|title=Results – Men's Giant Slalom Run 2|url=https://www.olympic.org/pyeongchang-2018/results/en/alpine-skiing/results-men-s-giant-slalom-fnl-000200-.htm|website=PyeongChang 2018|publisher=International Olympic Committee|accessdate=February 18, 2018}}{{cite news|last=Lising|first=Charmie|title=Asa Miller finishes 70th in giant slalom as PH's Pyeongchang campaign ends|publisher=ESPN 5|date=February 18, 2018|url=http://tv5.espn.com/story/_/id/22485844/asa-miller-finishes-70th|accessdate=February 18, 2018}}
He participated in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China competing in both giant slalom and slalom becoming the first alpine skier to represent the Philippines to compete in two Winter Olympics.{{Cite web|title=Filipino skier Asa Miller to compete in second straight Winter Olympics|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/filipino-skier-asa-miller-second-winter-olympics-beijing-2022|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=Olympics.com}} As the lone competitor, he reprised his role as the country's flagbearer during the opening ceremony.{{cite web |last1=Lozada |first1=Bong |title=Asa Miller carries Philippine flag at Winter Olympics opening ceremony |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/449924/asa-miller-carries-philippine-flag-at-winter-olympics-opening-ceremony |website=Philippines Daily Inquirer |access-date=5 February 2022 |language=en |date=4 February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/beijing-2022-flagbearers-opening-ceremony|title=Beijing-2022 Opening Ceremony Flag-Bearers|date=4 February 2022|website=www.olympics.com/|publisher=International Olympic Committee (IOC)|access-date=4 February 2022}}{{cite news |title=Asa Miller savors repeat stint as Olympic flag bearer: 'Proud to have done it again!' |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/asa-miller-savors-repeat-stint-flag-bearer-beijing-winter-olympics/ |access-date=6 February 2022 |work=Rappler |date=5 February 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ocasia.org/news/2719-asian-noc-flagbearers-for-beijing-2022-opening-ceremony.html|title=Asian NOC flagbearers for Beijing 2022 opening ceremony|date=4 February 2022|website=www.ocasia.org|publisher=Olympic Council of Asia|access-date=8 February 2022}}
Miller incurred "did not finish" records for both the giant slalom and slalom events. Miller crashed out 20 seconds into the first run of the giant slalom due to heavy snowfall.{{cite news |last1=Giongco |first1=Mark |title=Coach still proud of Asa Miller despite DNF in giant slalom |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/451151/coach-still-proud-of-asa-miller-despite-dnf-in-giant-slalom |access-date=13 February 2022 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=13 February 2022 |language=en}} For the slalom, Miller skied for 36 seconds in his failed first run.{{cite news |title=Asa Miller on second DNF in 2022 Winter Olympics: 'I have fault also' |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/othersports/822116/asa-miller-on-second-dnf-in-2022-winter-olympics-i-have-fault-also/story/ |access-date=16 February 2022 |work=GMA News |date=16 February 2022}}
=Olympic results=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center; border:grey solid 1px; border-collapse:collapse;" width="40%" | ||||||
| style="background-color:#369; color:white;"
|rowspan="2" colspan="1" width="5%"|Year | ||||||
| style="background-color:#4180be; color:white;"
| width="3%"|Age | width="5%"|Slalom | width="5%"|Giant | width="5%"|Super G | width="5%"|Downhill | width="5%"|Combined | ||||||
| style="background-color:#8CB2D8; color:white;" | ||||||
| 2018 | 17 | — | 70 | — | — | — |
| 2022 | 21 | DNF | DNF | — | — | — |
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
- [https://olympics.com/beijing-2022/olympic-games/en/results/alpine-skiing/athlete-profile-n1055485-asa-miller.htm Asa Miller] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205100357/https://olympics.com/beijing-2022/olympic-games/en/results/alpine-skiing/athlete-profile-n1055485-asa-miller.htm |date=February 5, 2022 }} – 2022 Winter Olympics Profile
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports|oly}}
{{succession box
| before = Eumir Marcial
Kiyomi Watanabe
| title = Flagbearer for {{PHI}}
| years = Beijing 2022
| after = Carlo Paalam
Nesthy Petecio
}}
{{s-sports|oly}}
{{succession box
| before = Ian Lariba
| title = Flagbearer for {{PHI}}
| years = Pyeongchang 2018
| after = Eumir Marcial
Kiyomi Watanabe
}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miller, Asa}}
Category:Sportspeople from Portland, Oregon
Category:American sportspeople of Filipino descent
Category:Filipino male alpine skiers
Category:American male alpine skiers
Category:Alpine skiers at the 2018 Winter Olympics
Category:Alpine skiers at the 2022 Winter Olympics
Category:Olympic alpine skiers for the Philippines
Category:Lincoln High School (Portland, Oregon) alumni