Teófilo Yldefonso

{{Infobox person

| name = Teófilo Yldefonso

| image = Teófilo Yldefonso 1928.jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Yldefonso at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam

| birth_name = Teófilo Yldefonso y de la Cruz

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1903|11|5|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Piddig, Ilocos Norte, Philippine Islands

| death_date = {{death date and age|1942|6|19|1903|11|05}}

| death_place = Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac, Japanese-occupied Philippine Commonwealth

| spouse = {{marriage|Manuela Ella|1925}}

| children = 6

| module = {{Infobox military person|embed=yes

| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
{{Flag|Philippine Commonwealth}}

| branch = United States Army

| unit = 57th Infantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts)

| serviceyears = 1922–1942

| rank = Sergeant

| battles = Japanese occupation of the Philippines (World War II)

}}

| module2 = {{Infobox swimmer

| child = yes

| nicknames = "Ilocano Shark"

| national_team = {{flag|Philippines|1936}}

| height = {{convert|1.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|73|kg|lb|abbr=on}}

| strokes = Breaststroke

| club =

| coach =

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | the {{flag|Philippines|1936}}}}

}}

Teófilo E. Yldefonso (born Teófilo Yldefonso y de la Cruz; November 5, 1903 – June 19, 1942){{cite Sports-Reference |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417165135/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/yl/teofilo-yldefonso-1.html |title=Teófilo Yldefonso |archive-date=2020-04-17 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/yl/teofilo-yldefonso-1.html |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=Image of Monument to Teofilo Yldefonso 1903-1942 |url=https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1409/5156773181_15cbeecedc_z.jpg |website=flickr.com |accessdate=8 March 2016}}{{cite web |title=Teofio Yldefonso (PHI) 1903-1942: 2010 Honor Pioneer Swimmer |url=http://www.ishof.org/teofio-yldefonso-(phi).html |website=ISHOF.org |publisher=International Swimming Hall of Fame |access-date=1 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905182908/http://www.ishof.org/teofio-yldefonso-(phi).html |archive-date=5 September 2015 |url-status=dead}} was a Filipino breaststroke swimmer. He was the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to win an Olympic medal, and the first Filipino to win multiple medals.

Early life

Teofilo Yldefonso was born on November 5, 1903, in Sitio Bayog,{{Cite web |last=Alinea |first=Eddie G. |date=2020-01-29 |title=Yldefonso inducted to IS Hall of Fame |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/01/29/sports/sports-top/yldefonso-inducted-to-is-hall-of-fame/678035 |access-date=2021-08-22 |website=The Manila Times |language=en}} Piddig, Ilocos Norte to Felipe and Aniceta Yldefonso. He was the second among three siblings. His mother died after giving birth to his younger brother, who died at a young age. The Yldefonso siblings taught themselves to swim at the Guisit River.{{cite news |last1=Pasion |first1=Ahikam |title=First Pinoy Olympic medalist has no known grave |url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/30/first-pinoy-olympic-medalist-has-no-known-grave/ |access-date=1 August 2021 |work=Manila Bulletin |date=30 July 2021}}

Yldefonso joined 57th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Scouts of the United States Army in 1922 upon turning 18 years old. It was with the military he was exposed to competitive swimming.

Career

Yldefonso began joining regional swimming meets in the 1923. Competing in the 200-meter breaststroke, he won multiple gold medals in the Far Eastern Games (1923, 1927, 1930, and 1934). He also stood out in the Philippine vs. Formosa Dual Meets (1929, 1931, 1933, and 1937).{{Cite web |title=Teófilo Yldefonso - Hall Of Fame Pioneer |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/hall-of-fame/bio/pioneer/te%C3%B3filo-yldefonso |access-date=2021-08-22 |website=www.swimmingworldmagazine.com}}

He collected a total of 144 medals in his career which lasted until 1937. He won two bronze medals in the 200 m breaststroke event, at the 1928 and 1932 Summer Olympics, and placed 7th in the 1936 edition.{{cite news |last1=Barreiro |first1=Steve |title=Lt.Teofilo Yldefonso's monument unveiled |url=http://ilocostimes.com/feb06-mar05-06/news_9.htm |access-date=1 August 2021 |work=Ilocos Times |date=19 February 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306160643/http://ilocostimes.com/feb06-mar05-06/news_9.htm |archive-date=6 March 2012}}

World War II and death

During World War II, Yldefonso fought against the Japanese in Bataan as part of the Philippine Scouts, reaching the rank of lieutenant.

He survived the Bataan Death March, but later died in Japanese captivity at Camp O'Donnell, Capas, Tarlac.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/friv/lists.cgi?id=65 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417055433/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/friv/lists.cgi?id=65 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |title=Olympians Who Were Killed or Missing in Action or Died as a Result of War |access-date=24 July 2018}} His remains have never been recovered{{cite news |last1=Alinea |first1=Eddie |title=Sports Heroes who displayed true heroism during the war |url=https://manilastandard.net/mobile/article/149340 |access-date=1 August 2021 |publisher=The Standard |date=8 June 2014}} as he was interred in a mass grave, along with other dead soldiers. His name is etched in the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-30 |title=First Pinoy Olympic medalist has no known grave |url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/30/first-pinoy-olympic-medalist-has-no-known-grave/ |access-date=2021-08-22 |website=Manila Bulletin |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Yldefonso was married to Manuela Ella in 1925 with whom he had six children: Porfirio, Emilio, Felipe, Norma, Herminia, and Carmelito.

Legacy

Yldefonso was named as part of the Hall of Fame by the International Swimming Federation in 2009. His unorthodox style of swimming would later become known as the "Yldefonso Stroke". It has been adapted by smaller swimmers, especially those from Asia, particularly the Japanese.

Yldefenso was often referred to as "The Father of the Modern Breaststroke" in European textbooks. He is credited for popularizing a style which brought breaststroke closer to the surface of the water rather than underwater which was the common during his time.

President Ferdinand Marcos also awarded Yldefonso the Presidential Award for Meritorious Service.

In 2006, the municipal government of Piddig unveiled a monument in Yldefonso's honor for his feats in swimming and World War II.

His daughter, Norma, competed at the 2nd Asian Games held in Manila, Philippines and won a silver medal in the 100m butterfly event.{{Cite web |title=Teofilo YLDEFONSO |url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/teofilo-yldefonso |access-date=2021-08-22 |website=Olympics.com}}