Quick Facts
Biography
Roger Casugay (born March 10, 1994), is a Filipino surfer who competed for the Philippines at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Career
Casugay represented the Philippines in the surfing longboard event at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games which his country hosted. Typhoon Kammuri (Tisoy) has affected the wave conditions at the surfing venue of the games.
His act during the longboard semifinals on December 6, 2019 was widely acclaimed when he saved Arip Nurhidayat, an Indonesian competitor from drowning risking a chance to win the longboard gold medal. Casugay was regarded as a "hero" on social media due to his deed, eventually won a rematch against Nurhidayat and bested fellow Filipino surfer Rogelio Esquivel for the gold medal.
Due to his deed, he was named as the flag bearer of the Philippine delegation at the closing ceremony and is set to be conferred the Order of Lapu-Lapu.
Prior to his stint at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, he competed at the 2018 Philippine Surfing Championship Tour where he finished 3rd.
Personal life
Lisa Verweij, a Dutch, is Casugay's girlfriend. As of December 2019, they have been in a relationship for about three years.
