Hergie Bacyadan

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Hergie Bacyadan

| image = Hergie Bacyadan 2024.jpg

| image_size =

| image_upright =

| landscape =

| alt =

| caption = Bacyadan competing at the 2024 Summer Olympics

| headercolor =

| textcolor =

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| birth_name = Hergie Tao-Wag Bacyadan

| full_name =

| nickname =

| nationality =

| national_team = Philippines

| citizenship =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|11|4}}

| birth_place = Quezon City, Philippines

| death_date =

| death_place =

| resting_place =

| resting_place_coordinates =

| monuments =

| hometown = Tanudan, Kalinga

| education =

| alma_mater =

| occupation =

| years_active = 2016–

| employer =

| agent =

| height = 168cm

| weight =

| spouse = Lady Denily Digo

| life_partner =

| children =

| parents =

| relatives =

| other_interests =

| website =

| module =

| country = Philippines

| sport = Boxing, Kickboxing, Wushu, Vovinam

| position =

| shoots =

| catches =

| disability =

| disability_class =

| weight_class =

| weight_class_type =

| rank =

| event =

| event_type =

| universityteam =

| collegeteam =

| league =

| league_type =

| club =

| team =

| turnedpro =

| turnedpro_type =

| partner =

| former_partner =

| coach =

| retired =

| coaching =

| module2 = {{Infobox boxer

| nickname =

| reach =

| birth_name =

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| style = Orthodox{{cite web |title=BACYADAN Hergie |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/hergie-bacyadan_1979929 |website=Olympics.com |access-date=26 July 2024}}

| boxrec = 1105338

| total = 14

| wins = 9

| KO = 0

| losses = 5

| draws =

| no contests =

| embed =yes

}}

| worlds =

| regionals =

| nationals =

| olympics =

| paralympics =

| commonwealth =

| highestranking =

| pb =

| show-medals =

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's wushu}}

{{Medal|Country|the {{PHI}}}}

| medaltemplates-title =

| module3 =

}}

Hergie Tao-Wag Bacyadan (born November 4, 1994){{cite web |last1=Bacyadan |first1=Hergie |title=I, Hergie Tao-Wag Bacyadan, stand against the protest of Russian National Team |url=https://www.instagram.com/hergiebacyadan/p/C0RGN8jPc8u/?img_index=5 |website=Instagram |access-date=2 June 2024}} is a Filipino boxer and kickboxer; Also a former wushu and vovinam practitioner, Bacyadan has competed in the women's division in all sports.

He{{Efn|Hergie Bacyadan is a trans man who was assigned female at birth and competes in women's sports; he has not undergone any surgery for his masculine features. He has no publicly stated pronoun preference,{{Cite web |last=Cabral |first=Katrina Maisie |date=28 June 2024 |title=Hergie Bacyadan Is Ready for His Olympic Dream |url=https://www.preview.ph/culture/hergie-bacyadan-preview-in-focus-june-2024-a5158-20240628-lfrm |access-date=17 July 2024|quote=When I asked him for his pronouns, Hergie left it up to my hands. Despite this, he's assured that he had always felt that he had the heart and mind of a man.|work=Preview}} although a One Sports article published through correspondence with Bacyadan's partner asserts he prefers he/him pronouns.{{cite news |last1=Alba |first1=Katrina |title='White gold': Hergie Bacyadan's sacrifice deserves respect despite sour loss in SEA Games vovinam |url=https://www.onesports.ph/sea-games/article/11840/white-gold-hergie-bacyadan-sacrifice-deserves-respect-despite-sour-loss-in-sea-games-vovinam |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=One Sports |date=11 May 2023 |language=en, fil}}|name=pronouns}} is the first Vovinam World Championships gold medalist for the Philippines and a boxer who has qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Career

=Martial arts=

Bacyadan is a martial artist who engages in wushu and vovinam.

==Wushu==

Bacyadan first made it to the Philippine national wushu team in 2016.{{cite news |last1=Austria |first1=Maria Romina |title=From martial arts to boxing, Bacyadan fulfills Olympic dream |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1226047 |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=Philippine News Agency |date=2 June 2024}} He took part at the inaugural Sanda Asian Cup in 2017 held in Foshan, China, winning a silver in the 65-kilogram division. At the 2017 World Wushu Championships in Kazan, Russia, he won another silver.{{cite news |title=2017's sports ups and downs |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/more-articles/2017s-sports-ups-and-downs |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=SunStar baguio|publisher=SunStar Publishing Inc. |date=30 December 2017 |language=en}}

==Vovinam==

Bacyadan would briefly compete in vovinam, and lost weight as part of his preparation for the vovinam competition at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.{{cite news |last1=Alba |first1=Katrina |title='White gold': Hergie Bacyadan's sacrifice deserves respect despite sour loss in SEA Games vovinam |url=https://www.onesports.ph/sea-games/article/11840/white-gold-hergie-bacyadan-sacrifice-deserves-respect-despite-sour-loss-in-sea-games-vovinam |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=One Sports |date=11 May 2023 |language=en, fil}}

Bacyadan competed in the 2023 Vovinam World Championships in the women's combat 66 kg division title and became the Philippines' first vovinam champion, winning against Mariana Abdeenko in the final.{{cite news |last1=Caluag |first1=Randy |title=Bacyadan wins PH's 1st world vovinam gold |url=https://manilastandard.net/?p=314393603 |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=Manila Standard |date=26 November 2023}}

In response, Russia filed a protest calling to nullify the result and issue a ban against Filipino athletes for future competitions, claiming that it was because Bacaydan is a "man". The Philippine federation condemned its Russian counterpart, with Bacyadan affirming that he is eligible to compete as he is "born female" and has not taken male hormones or gender surgery, due to the fact that such procedures would result in disqualification.{{cite news |last1=Caluag |first1=Randy |title=PH champion assails Russian federation for gender protest |url=https://manilastandard.net/?p=314395240 |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=Manila Standard |date=1 December 2023}}

==Kickboxing==

Bacyadan also have competed in kickboxing. He won a gold medal in the women's K1 -75kg division of the 2024 Asian Kickboxing Championships in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.{{cite news |last1=Terrado |first1=Reuben |title=Paris Olympian Hergie Bacyadan captures Asian title in kickboxing |url=https://www.spin.ph/boxing/paris-olympian-hergie-bacyadan-captures-asian-title-in-kickboxing-a795-20241013 |access-date=14 October 2024 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=13 October 2024 |language=en}} This qualified him a berth in the 2025 World Games in China. {{cite news |last1=Caluag |first1=Randy |title=Olympian Bacyadan lone PH representative in World Games |url=https://manilastandard.net/sports/314515323/olympian-bacyadan-lone-ph-representative-in-world-games.html |access-date=6 January 2025 |work=Manila Standard |date=25 October 2024}}

=Boxing=

Bacyadan’s shift to boxing was marked by his participation at the 2019 ASBC Asian Grand Slam Boxing Championships in Xiamen, China as part of his bid to qualify for in the Summer Olympics.{{cite web |title=Philippines' Hergie Bacyadan introduced her successful sport change in the first day of the ASBC Asian Grand Slam Boxing Championships |url=http://www.asbcnews.org/philippines-hergie-bacyadan-introduced-her-successful-sport-change-in-the-first-day-of-the-asbc-asian-grand-slam-boxing-championships/ |website=ASBC NEWS |publisher=Asian Boxing Confederation |access-date=2 June 2024}}

Bacyadan qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris through winning his quota bout at the 2024 World Olympic Qualification Tournament 2 against Maryelis Yriza of Venezuela.{{cite news |title=Boxing: Hergie Bacyadan punches ticket to Paris Olympics |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/2/hergie-bacyadan-punches-ticket-to-paris-olympics-1610 |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=2 June 2024}}{{cite news |title=Boxer Hergie Bacyadan qualifies for Paris Olympics |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/boxing/908771/boxer-hergie-bacyadan-qualifies-for-paris-olympics/story/ |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=GMA News |date=2 June 2024 |language=en}}

Bacyadan prefers sparring with cisgender male boxers as part of his practice, which he believes benefits him in women's boxing.{{cite news |last1=Demigillo |first1=Kiko |title=Steadfast Hergie Bacyadan relishes sparring sessions with male boxers in preparation for Paris 2024 |url=https://www.onesports.ph/paris-2024/article/23004/steadfast-hergie-bacyadan-relishes-sparring-sessions-with-male-boxers-in-preparation-for-paris-2024 |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=One Sports |date=29 July 2024 |language=en}}

In the 2024 Summer Olympics, Li Qian would eliminate him early via unanimous decision in round 16 of the women's 75 kg (middleweight) division.{{cite news |last1=Villanueva |first1=Ralph Edwin |title=Chinese top seed too skilled for Olympic boxing debutant Bacyadan |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2024/07/31/2374432/chinese-top-seed-too-skilled-olympic-boxing-debutant-bacyadan |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=The Philippine Star |date=31 July 2024}} Shortly after the end of his stint, Bacyadan have expressed openness to turn to professional boxing.{{cite news |last1=Villanueva |first1=Ralph Edwin |title=Olympian boxer Bacyadan mulls turning pro |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2024/08/16/2378316/olympian-boxer-bacyadan-mulls-turning-pro |access-date=16 August 2024 |work=The Philippine Star |date=16 August 2024}}

Personal life

Bacyadan is a transgender man.{{cite news |last1=Webb |first1=Karleigh |title=Hergie Bacyadan is trans boxer at the Olympics with 'heart' |url=https://www.outsports.com/2024/7/31/24098788/hergie-bacyadan-trans-athlete-boxing-paris-olympics/ |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=OutSports |date=31 July 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Napoles |first1=Jimboy |title=Get to know Pinoy Transgender Male Boxer Hergie Bacyadan |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/celebritylife/news/21189/get-to-know-pinoy-transgender-male-boxer-hergie-bacyadan/photo |access-date=16 August 2024 |work=GMA News |date=7 August 2024 |quote=I am trans at heart, but I did not take any hormones or steroids to look like a man.}} He discussed his gender identity in an interview with Preview, acknowledging that he was born as a woman but that his "heart and mind" are that of a man.{{Cite web |last=Cabral |first=Katrina Maisie |date=28 June 2024 |title=Hergie Bacyadan Is Ready for His Olympic Dream |url=https://www.preview.ph/culture/hergie-bacyadan-preview-in-focus-june-2024-a5158-20240628-lfrm |access-date=17 July 2024|work=Preview}} Despite this, Bacyadan competes in the women’s divisions, as he has not undergone any hormone replacement therapy or surgery which would risk his eligibility.{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Brian C. |title=Trans boxer Hergie Bacyadan looks for gold at Paris Olympics |url=https://www.outsports.com/2024/6/17/24096221/hergie-bacyadan-trans-boxer-paris-summer-olympics-philippines/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=OutSports |language=en}}

He has stood by Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yuting of Taiwan who are involved in their own sex verification controversy in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Bacyadan affirmed Khelif and Lin are cis women and are fully qualified to participate and disavowed misinformation in social media that he has called for the ban of the two boxers.{{cite news |last1=Valderrama |first1=Aeron Paul |title=Bacyadan defends Lin, Khelif, stands by their gender identity amid backlash |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/bacyadan-defends-lin-khelif-stands-by-their-gender-identity-amid-backlash/308938 |access-date=5 August 2024 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=5 August 2024}}

Bacyadan hails from Tanudan, Kalinga{{cite news |last1=Kinao |first1=Menchie |title=Kalinga boxer wins first world vovinam gold medal for Philippines |url=https://www.gurupress-cordillera.com/post/ykalinga-boxer-wins-first-world-vovinam-gold-medal-for-philippines |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=GuruPress Cordillera |date=28 November 2023 |language=en}} and is of the Kalinga ethnic group.{{cite news |last1=Napoles |first1=Jimboy |title=Get to know Pinoy Transgender Male Boxer Hergie Bacyadan |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/entertainment/celebritylife/news/21189/get-to-know-pinoy-transgender-male-boxer-hergie-bacyadan/photo |access-date=16 August 2024 |work=GMA News |date=7 August 2024 |quote=In an interview with Preview, Hergie Bacyadan said that his Kalinga tribe accepted his gender identity as he wore traditional men's clothes such as the bahag.}}{{cite news |last1=Navarro |first1=June |title=Buoyed by belief, Hergie Bacyadan nears Paris Olympics slot |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/568663/buoyed-by-belief-hergie-bacyadan-nears-paris-olympics-slot |access-date=2 June 2024 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=1 June 2024 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Dioquino |first1=Delfin |title=Masterful Hergie Bacyadan batters foe to punch Olympic ticket |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/boxing/results-hergie-bacyadan-world-qualification-tournament-paris-olympics-june-2-2024/ |access-date=2 June 2024 |work=Rappler |date=2 June 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Fuertes |first1=Rommel Jr. |title=Paris Olympics: Hergie Bacyadan honors her tribe in quest of boxing gold |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/574300/paris-olympics-hergie-bacyadan-honors-her-tribe-in-quest-of-boxing-gold |access-date=13 July 2024 |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=13 July 2024 |language=en}} He says that his tribe accepts his gender identity, and he is allowed to wear traditional men's clothes such as the bahag.

Bacyadan describes his sexual orientation as being "attracted to women". He married Lady Denily Digo, a bisexual cis woman, in Utah in 2022. The couple are online content creators with a presence on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.{{cite news |last1=Maru |first1=Davinci |title=Filipino same-sex couple get married online in Utah |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/06/30/23/filipino-same-sex-couple-get-married-online-in-utah |access-date=31 July 2024 |work=ABS-CBN News |date=30 June 2022}}