Exon is a former competitive swimmer from the Philippines and an experienced swimming instructor with nearly two decades of coaching experience. He competed at the national level and won a gold medal in Individual Medley, as well as gold medals in Front Crawl and Butterfly at major regional competitions. Exon has been involved in swimming since the age of four and also competed in sprint triathlon events. He began working as a swimming instructor in the Philippines from 2000 to 2011 before moving to Dubai, where he worked as a senior open water lifeguard at a large aquatic facility with waterpark, beach, and water sports operations. During this time, he continued to develop his teaching skills and professional qualifications. Exon later worked as a swimming instructor at a five-star hotel health club (2015–2018) and with Fitness First (2018–2020), helping swimmers of different ages improve their confidence, technique, and performance in the water.