From Bahrain to Batang Pinoy: AYG medalist Charlie Ratcliff continues to impress with a win back in the Philippines 

Barely catching her breath from a triumphant campaign in Bahrain, 16-year-old Charlie Ratcliff proved her warrior spirit knows no borders. 

Just days after capturing modern MMA gold at the Asian Youth Games, the young prodigy from Calatrava, Negros Occidental struck gold again — this time on home soil — at the Batang Pinoy 2025 National Championships.

Competing for Quezon City, Ratcliff captured the gold medal in the juvenile girls Gi 16–17 -48kg featherweight division and a bronze medal in the No Gi category, showing remarkable composure and stamina despite the long journey from the Middle East to Mindanao.

“It feels amazing and not so stressed. But I’m okay,” said Ratcliff with a smile, her calm demeanor belying the whirlwind week she’d just endured. “I left Bahrain on [October] 26 and came here 27, maybe. Maybe I had jetlag when I arrived, but not today, I have a fight.”

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That “fight” mentality carried her through a demanding bracket at the Lagao Central Elementary School Gym. Ratcliff opened her Gi campaign with dominant wins — 7-0 over Denicah Louise Untalan in the quarterfinals and 6-0 against Raesee Margarette Reyes in the semis — before capping it off with a 3-0 gold medal victory over fellow Quezon City bet Rafaella Isabel Sumera.

In the No Gi event, Ratcliff stormed into the semifinals after an 18-0 rout of Jenalyn Bayubay of Baguio City, but a disqualification loss to Untalan relegated her to bronze.

Her performance, however, underscored her remarkable poise under pressure. Traveling halfway across the world, dealing with fatigue and jet lag, then stepping onto the mat again to represent her city — Ratcliff’s resilience stood out as much as her talent.

A Grade 12 student at Colegio de Santo Tomas, Ratcliff traces her martial roots back to family. She was introduced to jiu-jitsu by her mother and coach, Maria Aisa Ratcliff, a former national wrestling team member, when she was just six years old.

 That early foundation has since evolved into a world-class skill set — one that now has her winning medals on both international and national stages.

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