Two Filipino mermaid swimmers officially made waves on the global stage after competing in the inaugural Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) Mermaid World Cup at the Hainan Ocean Paradise Resort in Hainan, China.
Photos: The Tropical Merman, Mermaid Magindara/Instagram
The international competition, which took place inside the massive South China Sea Secret Realm aquarium tank from August 25 to 31, 2026, saw Gian Jurado and IJ Terre Crisostomo represent the Philippines in the adult men’s and adult women’s solo skill disciplines, respectively.
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Dubbed “the tropical merman,” Jurado delivered a graceful routine during the preliminary round that propelled him to the final stage. While he missed out on a podium finish, Jurado’s impressive performance proved why he is considered one of the elite international competitors in the growing sport of professional mermen.
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Meanwhile, Crisostomo—widely known as Mermaid Magindara in the local community—faced unexpected challenges after a misunderstanding of the pre-dive instructions led to her early elimination.
“Yesterday was not the performance I came here to give,” Crisostomo shared in a Facebook post. “I followed the instructions I was given, but it backfired, affecting my relaxation, buoyancy, timing, and ultimately the way I performed the skills I had trained.”
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“Still, this experience is a good lesson for me. There are things I can learn from today, and things I can prepare for better next time… Today may not have gone the way I hoped, but I’m incredibly grateful I got to be here with them,” she added.
Vying for world champion titles, the historic World Cup gathered 103 elite mermaid swimmers from 12 countries and territories, who competed across four main disciplines: solo skill, solo mermaid dance, synchronized skill, and group mermaid dance.
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According to Yang Ying, the technical representative for the competition, mermaid diving is a sport that uniquely bridges technical precision and artistry. Judges evaluate competitors in group categories based on movement difficulty, transition fluidity, and sync precision.
Ahead of the tournament, both Jurado and Crisostomo trained with Merman Freediving International (MFI), an organization that sets global standards for recreational and professional mermaiding.
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Though they didn’t bring home medals this time, the tropical merman and Mermaid Magindara still cemented their status as pioneering athletes, showing the world what Filipino merfolks can do.
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