At age 53, Mikee Romero became the first Filipino to enter the top 25 of the World Polo Tour amateur rankings in 2025, remaining the highest-ranked Southeast Asian player. He received a special award from the Philippine Sportswriters Association this February. He has no plans to slow down and aims to elevate Philippine polo's international standing.
Mikee Romero, a 53-year-old polo player from the Philippines, has achieved remarkable success in the sport despite his late start. In 2025, he made history by entering the top 25 of the World Polo Tour amateur rankings, the first for a Filipino and the highest for any Southeast Asian player. This accomplishment earned him a special award from the Philippine Sportswriters Association in February.
"It is unheard of and unbelievable to become a world-class athlete at this later stage of my life," Romero said. "Especially in such a very demanding sport."
Polo demands exceptional horsemanship, focus, and precision, with players guiding a horse using one hand while wielding a mallet with the other. It also carries risks of injury. Yet, approaching his 54th birthday in March, Romero thrives on the competition's adrenaline.
Last year, he led GlobalPort-Passion for Polo to strong performances in the Gauntlet of Polo series in Wellington, Florida, United States. The team reached the semifinals of the C.V. Whitney Cup, finished as runner-up in the USPA Bronze Cup, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open Polo Championship, America's premier polo event.
For Romero, "age is just a number." He described representing the country as always a "big honor." Beyond personal challenges, he seeks to establish more records and team milestones to boost Philippine polo's international profile.
"For us, it wasn’t just about winning — it was about belonging. Belonging to the world stage. And I believe we’ve earned that right," he stated. "This is just the beginning. We are no longer just spectators — we are players in the arena."
