Fil-Am gymnast makes American Cup debut: ‘A dream coming to fruition’
Photo from zacharynunez8/Instagram
Team Philippines wrapped up its campaign at the American Cup 2026 with an eighth-place finish in the mixed team event.
Held in Las Vegas, the competition brought together some of the world’s most elite artistic gymnastics programs, making it one of the most competitive meets on the global calendar.
Among those who took center stage was Filipino American gymnast Zachary Nunez, who embraced the moment as a long-awaited personal breakthrough. He turned a long-held dream into reality as he stepped onto the global stage with pride as he represented the Philippines.
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While the team ultimately finished eighth in the mixed team competition and exited in the opening round, the result only tells part of the story.
Reflecting on the moment, Nunez described the experience as “a dream coming to fruition,” sharing how grateful he was for the opportunity to represent the country on such a prestigious platform.
He noted that wearing the Philippine flag on his chest had been a goal since then. “Grateful to have had the opportunity to represent the Philippines at the 2026 American Cup. Wearing the Philippine flag on my chest has been a goal since before college,” he wrote.
A 2025 graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Nunez has steadily worked his way through the ranks, balancing the rigors of college gymnastics while keeping his sights set on competing internationally.
After enduring all the hardships leading up to the American Cup, Nunez said the accomplishment felt “that much sweeter.”
