At 52, most athletes were already done with their careers and content with looking back, narrating their past glories to their grandchildren and friends alike.

But not for sports patron Mikee Romero.

His body and his mind continue to crave the thrill and adrenaline of the competition, and before he knew it, he found himself in the middle of the field, taking on the best polo players in the world.

Life starts at 50, as they say. But for Romero, the urge to test his limits and expand his boundaries even at that age led to his rise in the world polo rankings.

The pursuit all began in the prestigious series Gauntlet of Polo in Wellington, Florida last year. 

MIKEE Romero remains on top of his game, prompting him to become an awardee of the Philippine Sportswriters Association at 52.

Then, Romero steered GlobalPort-Passion For Polo to a semifinal finish in the C.V. Whitney Cup, a runner-up showing in the USPA Bronze Cup, and a quarterfinal appearance in the US Open Polo Championship — the crown jewel of American polo.

Indeed, it was a great year. 

“It is unheard of and unbelievable to become a world-class athlete at this stage of my life, especially in such a demanding sport,” Romero, a former Deputy Speaker and active reservist of the Philippine Air Force, said.

Polo is widely considered one of the most physically demanding sports, requiring elite conditioning, balance, endurance, and mental focus as players navigate with their horses and execute precise plays. 

Romero, however, became the first Filipino to break into the top 25 of the World Polo Tour amateur rankings, and remains the highest-ranked Southeast Asian player on the list, elevating his personal standing as well as the global profile of Philippine polo. 

No wonder, he was given a special citation by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) during its annual Awards Night at the Diamond Hotel last week.

His accomplishment at a highly competitive level just proved that excellence isn’t bound by age. 

And with his PSA award, Romero is certainly going for another first in the sport widely known as “Sport of Kings.”