It’s all struggles and hardship but it’s worth every bit of it. You have to earn and live with it!
At 15, Arnold Balais learned early in his athletic career that he would not be able to pursue the sports that he loved, basketball, when he permanently lost his right leg above the knee due to an accident. Instead of giving up on sports, Arnold learned an important lesson that he would carry into both sports and life: resilience and discipline were key to creating his own path forward.
Arnold recalls looking up to athletes featured on MILO sachets, many of whom were supported by MILO-sponsored programs. It remains one of his motivations and he still dreams of one day seeing his own face on a MILO package.
With the support of a powerlifting coach who believed in his potential, Arnold began training and competing in bench press powerlifting. His success in powerlifting opened the door to other sports such as swimming, where he competed for eight years and won multiple gold and silver medals in international competitions. Arnold also pushed his physical limits through mountain climbing, triathlons, and more.
Looking back, Arnold’s career was built on setbacks that pushed him to propel forward. His victories in swimming represent both his greatest achievements and most challenging setbacks as an athlete–coming close, but falling short of a Paralympic qualification. He saw this as another motivation to pursue what he describes as the para-athlete’s ultimate dream: to become a Paralympian.
Arnold has never forgotten the people who supported him from the starting line until today. From family, relatives, friends and also the hospital staff who cared for him during his recovery from amputation, to the coach and mentors who believed in his potential and brought him to compete. This support system that he built throughout his journey was pivotal in keeping him going. And he takes every chance to pay it forward.
While building his career in many sports, Arnold also made an impact in the medical field for the differently abled individuals. He began as a vocational coordinator for PWD (Persons with Disabilities) at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital rehabilitation center, and later became a prosthetic and orthotic technician, and laboratory instructor for Physical and Occupational Therapy students.
In 2013, Arnold made headlines as the first amputee to reach the peak of Mt. Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines. Ten years later, he accomplished this remarkable feat once again, supporting Everlasting Hope Ministry, a shelter for children battling cancer.
In 2016, Arnold yet again created a path for himself in dragon boat racing, where he is now team captain of a world-champion PADS Para Dragon Team, sharing the experience and values he has gained in years of individual sports with his teammates. His adaptability across these disciplines is a testament to his commitment to constantly pushing his own boundaries, no matter the challenge. He now has his sights set firmly on the 2028 Paralympics, with a clear focus on qualifying in paracanoeing. Arnold is more driven and determined than ever, fully committed to achieving his ultimate goal of becoming a Paralympian.
But Arnold’s journey will not stop there. In the future, he dreams of becoming a coach so that he can impart his experience and knowledge to the next generation of champions.
It is these values–resilience, discipline, and puso–that make Arnold the champion that he is through and through, whether as an individual athlete, a team player and captain, a motivational speaker, a parent, or simply a man committed to being the best version of himself.
