TAC PADILLA

VIENTIANE, Laos — Tac Padilla no longer spends time on the shooting range as much as he wants to but has not given up hope to compete in the Summer Olympics.

But time is running out for the former prodigy, who at 15 won his first of five gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games.

Now 45, Padilla can still perform well enough to aspire for the next two Olympic Games in London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Padilla said shooters have a longer shelf life than most athletes.

“You can still compete at a high-level even well into your fifties provided you keep yourself fit,” he said.

Padilla won his fourth gold medal in his favorite rapid fire pistol event Wednesday, ending a 16-year title drought.

The victory comes at a time when Padilla had assumed bigger responsibilities.

Aside from managing the family’s business, Padilla is also chairman of the National Youth Development Program (NYDP) in shooting.

“If I won’t realize my Olympic dreams, there are others who can and I’m ready to help,” he said.

Padilla has an 18-year-old daughter who could assume the torch his father, Tom Ong, a two-time Olympian, passed on to him.

Mica Padilla took up the sport less than two years ago, but already qualified to compete in the Games.

There are two roads to get to the Olympics – the World Cup or the Asian Games.

“You have to win or place well enough to be picked if the winner already has a spot in the Olympics,” he said.

The Asian Games next year in China looms for Padilla, but concedes that devoting less than two hours a day at their family range is not enough to win.

“We need international exposures that unfortunately I can’t afford to go because of my work and other responsibilities,” he said.

Padilla can consider himself lucky for having a father that has deep passion for shooting.

“All my success I owe to my father,” he said. “In fact, the first thing I did after winning was to call him. He was speechless on the other end. He’s very happy.”

Wealthy enough to pay for his equipment he uses the latest gun that costs about P120,000 and shoots 150 to 200 rounds a day – Tac can compete with the best in the region.

What Tac misses is competition which his father provided in his early years.

“He’s my mentor and fierce rival,” he said.

Tom has what Tac lacks in his resume: An Olympic badge.