Among the 22 delegates of the Philippines for Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the internet has been simping over one of the five boxing athletes: Hergie Tao-Wag Bacyadan. Filipinos and foreigners alike have been gushing over Hergie’s handsome face, gorgeous physique, and passion and perseverance to chase his dreams. Get to know Hergie Bacyadan with these 8 fast facts:

He identifies as a transgender man

In an interview with Preview, Hergie said he did not have any specific pronouns. But he considers himself a transgender man who was born female.

But he did not undergo any hormone replacement therapy

Hergie has not taken any male hormones or undergone gender reassignment surgery, which is why he remains eligible to compete in the women’s divisions despite identifying as a man.

In 2023, he released an official statement emphasizing that he had “never taken or injected male hormones” or undergone any surgery to achieve his masculine physique.

“The strength and skills I have were purely acquired through my hard work, perseverance, and commitment to my country,” he wrote.

He used to represent the Philippines in other sports

Hergie formerly competed in the wushu (a Chinese martial art) and vovinam (a Vietnamese martial art) categories. He became the Philippines’ first Vovinam World Championships gold medalist in 2023.

Prior to this, he bagged two silver medals for the Philippines at the 2017 Sanda Asian Cup and 2017 World Wushu Championships.

He’s a proud Igorot from Kalinga

Born on 4 November 1994, this 29-year-old boxer grew up in Kalinga, surrounded by a big family.

He points to his family and his Kalinga tribe as his inspiration to work hard and move forward. “Ang motivation ko yung family ko, tribo ko sa Kalinga, at yung mga taong nagtitiwala rin sa akin na kaya kong mag medal dito sa Paris,” Hergie told ABS-CBN News.

He took part in a “warrior blessing”

Before heading to Paris, he underwent a “warrior blessing” ceremony from his tribe to honor his Igorot roots. This ceremony included a prayer, offerings, and blessings from the tribe’s elders.

He’s competing in the women’s 75-kg division at the Paris Olympics

He qualified for Paris 2024 after meeting his quota bout with his win against Venezuela’s Maryelis Yriza at the 2024 World Olympic Qualification Tournament 2 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Scheduled on July 31, Wednesday (PH time), his first match sees Hergie going up against China’s Li Qian, who was the silver medalist in Tokyo 2020. Others in the same division are Thailand’s Baison Manikon, Kazakhstan’s Valentina Khalzova, and Mexico’s Citlalli Ortiz.

If Hergie finishes on the podium this year, he will become the first-ever trans male medallist in Olympic history.

He’s happily married

Sorry to everyone simping. This gorgeous man is happily taken.

His partner and wife, Lady Denily Digo, is a content creator and former banker. They met when Lady accidentally came upon Hergie’s livestream on Tiktok. The two were married in 2022 during a virtual ceremony presided over by a Utah county.

The couple are staunch supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community in the country.

He’s got Pinoy humor down to a tee

“Eiffel Tower ba yan? Or Eiffel in love with you?” he said with a deadpan expression as the Philippine delegation’s parade spotted the iconic tower. A clip of this particular line is going viral, and Pinoys are loving his “unserious” humor.

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