Asa Miller

Asa Bisquera Miller (born June 14, 2000) is a Filipino American alpine skier who competed for the Philippines at the Winter Olympics in the giant slalom and slalom. He competed in the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics, also serving as the flagbearer for his country during the respective game's opening ceremonies. He previously participated in the 2017 World Junior Alpine Skiing Championships in Sweden.

Asa Miller
Born (2000-06-14) June 14, 2000
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
OccupationAlpine skier ♂
Height173 cm (5 ft 8 in) (2018)[1]
Skiing career
DisciplinesGiant slalom, slalom
ClubSnowbird Sports Education Foundation (SBSEF)
Olympics
Teams2 – (2018, 2022)

Early life and education

Miller was born on June 14, 2000[2] in Portland, Oregon, in the United States, where he also spent his childhood.[3] His father is Kelly Miller, a ski patroller in Mount Hood[4] while his mother is Polly Bisquera whose roots traces to Santa Cruz, Manila, in the Philippines.[5] His first experience in skiing was when he was 1½ years old.[6]

He studied at Lincoln High School in Portland for his secondary education.[7][8] He would play baseball for Lincoln from 2015 to 2016 as a catcher. However, Miller focused on pursuing a career in competitive alpine skiing.[9][10] As of February 2018, he was in his senior year.[7][8] He is currently attending Westminster College in Salt Lake City.

Career

Asa Miller credits his father for influencing him to participate in competitive alpine skiing.[11] He was part of the Portland-based Mt. Hood Meadows race team, and has been on the team for about a decade as of 2018.[7][8] He was eight years old[12] when he participated in his first race. His coaches at Mt. Hood Meadows are Erik Gilbert,[6] AJ Kitt,[3][8] and Brad Saxe.[2] He trained two seasons with the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club and is currently a member of Snowbird Sports Education Foundation.

Junior World Championships

At the 2017 World Junior Alpine Skiing Championships in Åre, Sweden, Miller was among the participants. He competed for the Philippines in the slalom, giant slalom, super-G, and alpine combined, but he only finished the slalom.[2] Miller ranked 39th among skiers who finished the slalom.[2]

Winter Olympics

Miller realized in 2016 that he could compete for the Philippines in the Winter Olympics.[3] He has dual citizenship for the U.S. and the Philippines,[2][13] the latter acquired from his mother.[14]

Miller qualified for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, by accumulating sufficient points set by the International Ski Federation.[15] For his qualification he participated in races within the United States as well as in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden. He was coached by AJ Kitt, who has represented the United States in four Winter Olympics,[3] as well as by Erik Gilbert[6] and Brad Saxe. For his 2018 Olympic qualification and journey, his family held a fundraising campaign through GoFundMe, while the Philippine Olympic Committee funded his Olympic participation expenses.[12]

Miller is one of only two athletes representing the Philippines at the 2018 Winter Olympics,[3] the other being Michael Christian Martinez.[16] He was the flag bearer for his country in the opening ceremony,[2][17] on February 9 and the closing ceremony on February 25.[18]

His only participation at the games was in the giant slalom event,[8] which took place on February 18. He concluded his participation in the race with a time of 2:49.95, ranking 70th out of 110 participants.[19][20]

He participated in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China competing in both giant slalom and slalom becoming the first alpine skier to represent the Philippines to compete in two Winter Olympics.[21] As the lone competitor, he reprised his role as the country's flagbearer during the opening ceremony.[22][23][24][25]

Miller incurred "did not finish" records for both the giant slalom and slalom events. Miller crashed out 20 seconds into the first run of the giant slalom due to heavy snowfall.[26] For the slalom, Miller skied for 36 seconds in his failed first run.[27]

Olympic results
Year
Age Slalom Giant
Slalom		 Super G Downhill Combined
201817—70———
202221DNFDNF———

Personal life

Aside from alpine skiing, he also plays baseball and does hiking and scuba diving as recreation. In addition to English, Miller can also speak French.[2]

References
  1. "MILLER Asa". EuroSport. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  2. "Athlete Profile: Asa Miller". PyeongChang 2018. International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on February 10, 2018. Retrieved February 16, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. Krupke, Nick (February 5, 2018). "Lincoln HS senior Asa Miller to ski in the Olympics for the Philippines". Portland, Oregon: KPTV. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  4. "Miller's humble beginnings from fast ball to skiing". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  5. Henson, Joaquin (January 21, 2022). "Winter miracle in Beijing?". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  6. Geist, Luke (November 29, 2017). "Senior prepares to compete in the Olympics". The Cardinal Times. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  7. Satumbaga, Kristel (February 9, 2018). "Fil-Am skier tries to defy odds". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  8. Dooris, Pat (January 23, 2018). "Portland high school senior to represent the Philippines at Olympics". Portland, Oregon: KGW. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  9. Villar, Joeu (February 8, 2022). "Skier Asa Miller's other love is baseball". BusinessWorld. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  10. "How Asa Miller developed into a two-time Olympic skier". ABS-CBN News. February 8, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  11. Yumol, David Tristan (February 9, 2022). "Asa Miller credits father for skiing influence". CNN Philippines. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  12. Matel, Philip (January 20, 2018). "PH Olympic pride rests on 17-year old Asa Miller's shoulders". ABS-CBN Corporation. Archived from the original on February 9, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  13. McCord, AJ (January 26, 2018). "Portland teen to ski for Philippines in Olympics". Portland, Oregon: KOIN. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  14. KGW staff (February 9, 2018). "Oregon athletes in PyeongChang". Portland, Oregon: KGW. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  15. Bonilla, Ramon Rafael (February 7, 2018). "Martinez, Miller in Korea". BusinessMirror. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  16. Satumbaga, Kristel (February 10, 2018). "Norovirus downs 128 ahead of opening in Pyeongchang". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
  17. Parry, Richard (February 9, 2018). "Every flag bearer at Winter Olympics 2018 opening ceremony". London Evening Standard. UK. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  18. "Closing Ceremony Flagbearers - Olympic Winter Games, PyeongChang 2018" (PDF). International Olympic Committee. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  19. "Results – Men's Giant Slalom Run 2". PyeongChang 2018. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  20. Lising, Charmie (February 18, 2018). "Asa Miller finishes 70th in giant slalom as PH's Pyeongchang campaign ends". ESPN 5. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  21. "Filipino skier Asa Miller to compete in second straight Winter Olympics". Olympics.com. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  22. Lozada, Bong (February 4, 2022). "Asa Miller carries Philippine flag at Winter Olympics opening ceremony". Philippines Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  23. "Beijing-2022 Opening Ceremony Flag-Bearers". www.olympics.com/. International Olympic Committee (IOC). February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  24. "Asa Miller savors repeat stint as Olympic flag bearer: 'Proud to have done it again!'". Rappler. February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  25. "Asian NOC flagbearers for Beijing 2022 opening ceremony". www.ocasia.org. Olympic Council of Asia. February 4, 2022. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  26. Giongco, Mark (February 13, 2022). "Coach still proud of Asa Miller despite DNF in giant slalom". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  27. "Asa Miller on second DNF in 2022 Winter Olympics: 'I have fault also'". GMA News. February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
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