Challenging the stereotype that gay men are inherently weak or physically incapable, 13-year-old weightlifter Prince Jhay Cuyson is proving that strength has no gender.
Screengrab: Kimmerick Toribio Santos/Facebook
In a viral Facebook video shared by his coach, the young athlete captured the internet’s attention with his confident and playful walk off the competition platform. After successfully lifting 51 kilograms in the clean and jerk, Prince celebrated with a hair flip, hands-on-the-hips pose, a twirl, and a flying kiss to the audience.
His performance demonstrated that athletic strength and personal expression can go hand in hand.
“Hindi porket po bakla ka, hindi mo kaya buhatin ‘yung mga plates at bar na binubuhat [ng iba],” Prince said in an interview with ABS-CBN Sports. “Kasi sabi po sa kantang ‘Sirena,’ mas lalaki pa po sa lalaki ang bakla.”
The young athlete’s confidence and unapologetic self-expression resonated with netizens, who praised him for challenging traditional expectations of masculinity in sports.
“He is ending the stereotype na kapag bakla, malamya,” one commenter wrote.
“And they say we gays don’t lift a ton—guess who’s shocked now? Slayyyyyyyy,” another remarked.
“Born to be a diva, forced to be a weightlifta. Slay,” another comment read.
The viral footage was captured in August 2026, when Prince competed in the youth 55-kilogram category of HD LiftOff 2026. He recorded a 35-kilogram lift in the snatch and successfully lifted 51 kilograms in the clean and jerk.
Organized by Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo and her team, the competition brought together more than 100 weightlifters, providing young and aspiring athletes with an opportunity to showcase their strength and potential on a competitive platform.
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According to reports, Prince began training in weightlifting in March 2026, making his performance even more remarkable.
By confidently embracing his identity while demonstrating his athletic abilities, Prince challenges the notion that physical strength must conform to traditional standards of masculinity.
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His story reminds us that being strong and being unapologetically yourself are never mutually exclusive.
ALSO READ: Meet Hidilyn Diaz’s Niece Who Broke Records at the World Youth Weightlifting Championships
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