THREE WEEKS have now passed since the Olympic flame in Paris, the exotic French capital, was extinguished, signifying the end of an eventful Summer Games. What continues to shine, however, is the illustrious mark left by 22 proud Filipino athletes who represented the stars and sun under the brightest of lights.
Particularly, Team Philippines’ two gold and two bronze haul at Paris was the nation’s most successful appearance in its century-long participation in the modern Olympics. Consecutively, the country also finished as the best-performing team in the entire Southeast Asian region for the second straight quadrennial showcase.
It is indisputable that the trio of standouts who helped make Paris 2024 an all-time Philippine sporting hallmark deserve perpetual praise. At the same time, many other Filipino Olympians should also be saluted for tenaciously competing against the best in the world.
Carlos Yulo: Turning heartbreak into a pair of golds
Being touted as the “Golden Boy of Philippine Gymnastics” way before the Paris Games, Carlos Edriel Yulo already had a résumé as stacked as any gymnast would dream of. Dating back to his late teens and early twenties, the Manila native had already conquered the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, Asian Championships, Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, and Artistic Gymnastics World Cup.
The only feat he had yet to achieve before this August? Olympic glory. Yulo carried a gut-wrenching Olympic backstory heading into Paris, as it was only three years ago when he barely missed the podium in the quadrennial meet’s vault finals. Adding further insult to the star’s shortcomings, Yulo had been tagged as a strong bet to end the Philippines’ near century-long gold medal drought in Tokyo 2020—an honor ultimately taken by Hidilyn Diaz.
Yulo’s road to redemption was far from ideal, being marked by inconsistent pre-Olympic performances that included an early scare in the all-important 2023 World Championships. Surviving his horrid Day 1 showing in the tournament, the Filipino sensation officially qualified for the 2024 Olympics in poetic fashion with a breathtaking routine in the floor exercise event.
Learning from his previous stint in Tokyo, Yulo spent countless hours fortifying his mental state while polishing the intricacies of his techniques and strategies. His dedication paid dividends as he racked up a collection of golds in the Asian Championships in May, serving as much-needed momentum en route to Paris.
It was truly a tale of two Olympics for the 24-year-old, as he conquered past demons in Paris’ qualifying round by clinching a finals appearance in three different events—the all-around, floor exercise, and vault. This performance was a monumental improvement from Yulo’s Olympic debut in Tokyo, where he notoriously failed to qualify for the all-around and floor exercise finals.
Yulo delivered a valiant showing in the all-around finals, finishing 12th overall despite stiff and grizzled competition. Never looking back, the all-world gymnast then put together a pair of classic performances that helped etch his name among the icons of Philippine sports.
Fulfilling his greatest potential in his pet event, “Caloy” won his first Olympic gold after scoring a jaw-dropping 15.000 points in the floor exercise finals. Only 24 hours after attaining immortality, Yulo capped his Paris stint with an accolade once unfathomable to Filipino fans—a golden Olympic double, courtesy of his resounding victory in the vault finals.
In addition to bringing home the Philippines’ second and third-ever gold medals at the Summer Games, Yulo became the only Southeast Asian to ever capture two golds in a single Olympics.
Nesthy Petecio: Summoning brilliance afresh
Decorated boxer Nesthy Petecio brought forth superb outings in this year’s Paris Olympics, emulating greatness similar to her silver-plated run in Tokyo. Competing in the women’s 57kg category, the Davao Del Sur native fronted glory yet again as she closed a campaign painted in bronze.
Known to seize every opportunity, the athlete born from poverty has continuously toiled her way to success. Her journey dates back to her adolescence when she triumphed in inter-barangay tournaments and the Araw ng Davao competition. Lest the Philippines forgets, the now-two-time Olympic medalist is no stranger to international distinction, having attained gold in the 2019 and 2023 SEA Games.
Before Paris, Petecio made her intentions clear: to seize an elusive Olympic gold. Months before the tourney, she grinded away with fellow teammates in Thailand. Upon reflecting on her preparation, Petecio shared that she specifically devoted time to elevating her reflexes, agility, and footwork.
The Davaoeña let her gloves do the talking as she launched her Paris campaign with a series of commanding victories. In the round of 32, the veteran made light work of her opener, besting India’s Jaismine Lamboria via unanimous decision. In hostile territory, Petecio then gutted out a 4-1 victory against French national Amina Zidani to book a spot in the quarters.
The Filipino featherweight’s medal aspirations were then solidified with her one-sided win against China’s Xu Zichun, giving her a guaranteed bronze finish and a ticket to the 57kg semis.
Up against Julia Szeremeta of Poland in the semifinal round, Petecio fought with all she had in her arsenal as she hoped to keep her chase for gold alive. However, after a tough final two rounds against her much taller adversary, Petecio ultimately lost via split decision.
Nonetheless, the 32-year-old cemented her legacy with her second-ever Olympic medal—joining only Diaz, Yulo, and swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso in an exclusive club of multi-time Olympic medalists from the Philippines.
With hopeful bearings, Petecio mentioned that she seeks to augment her career and finally claim the almighty gold in the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Aira Villegas: A tale of unrelenting bronze
Olympic newcomer Aira Villegas proved to be a resounding threat in the women’s boxing 50kg division, sending unbeknownst shivers to her foes in what was a special, bronze-clinching Olympic debut.
When asked what sparked her performances, the Tacloban southpaw mentioned her commitment to avenging compatriots Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam who suffered shock exits in their respective divisions. With the utmost respect for her Olympic allies, Villegas said that she sought to turn their misfortunes into her motivation.
Villegas began her Paris journey with an impressive 5-0 victory against Morocco’s Yasmine Moutaqui in the round of 32. In her following bout, the Filipino flyweight dispatched Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria in another unanimous decision win to march into the quarterfinals.
In a bid to make the semis, Villegas shined her snappy techniques against French favorite Wassila Lkhadiri, spawning a duel of great intensity. Both fighters went back and forth as Villegas took the opening round, while Lkhadiri revved up in the second. In the tight final round, the Filipino dark horse edged out her counterpart, stealing a 3-2 win and an ascertained podium placement in front of a stunned French crowd.
The 29-year-old then faced Turkish rival Buse Naz Çakıroğlu, who had defeated Villegas in the 2022 World Championship quarters. Hoping for retribution, the Philippine fighter banked on quick feints and sharp hits but had no answers to her opponent’s barrage of lethal jabs. Regardless of her 0-5 loss to Çakıroğlu, Villegas still secured the Philippines’ fourth and final medal in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
With Villegas’ underdog tale in Paris complete, Filipinos around the world took witness to that which began from humble beginnings. From working as a cashew vendor and parking attendant, the Olympic bronze medalist illustrated that stellar determination can bring forth a story of fitting recognition.
Phenomenal stints to remember
While Yulo, Petecio, and Villegas concluded their Paris 2024 stories with their respective medal finishes, the Centennial Team’s captivating run consisted of even more triumphant moments that the nation should be proud of.
World third-ranked pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena may have come a few inches short of an elusive medal, but he firmly captured the hearts of millions of Filipinos with his performance in Paris. Obiena’s three-year Olympic buildup mixed with highs and lows culminated in him finishing fourth in the men’s vault finals—a vast improvement from his 11th-place outcome in Tokyo.
Under the radar compared to other Filipino athletes who were forecasted to dazzle in Paris, golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina gave the Philippines a valiant close to the 2024 Summer Games nonetheless.
Similar to Obiena, Pagdanganan ended her Paris run on a bittersweet note in fourth place. However, the 26-year-old’s amazing run did not go in vain, as she recorded the country’s best-ever result in Olympic golf. Ardina’s 13th-place performance on her Olympic debut was also pivotal, as it paved the way for multiple Filipino golfers to finish inside the top 15 for the first time in Olympic history.
The result proves to be more noteworthy beyond face value considering the duo’s highly-publicized uniform issue, which forced them to improvise with their gear due to logistical mishaps on the part of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
Paris also served as a grand stage for Filipino Olympians who played a trailblazing role in their respective sports. The Philippines’ six-decade-long Olympic dry spell in women’s gymnastics came to an end with the participation of trio Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Jung-Ruivivar. Moreover, Samantha Catantan and Joanie Delgaco became the first women to proudly represent the country in Olympic fencing and rowing, respectively.
Other notable outcomes in the 2024 Summer Olympics include featherweight boxer Paalam’s nail-biting quarterfinal loss, swimmer Kayla Sanchez’s national record-setting 100m freestyle, and weightlifter Elreen Ando’s pair of new personal-best marks in the women’s 59kg division.
Cultivating success
As seen in Parisian quarters, Filipinos have yet again avowed their place in the world of sports, shining the tri-colored hues of the nation in good tidings. With Yulo’s extraordinary feat, along with Petecio and Villegas’ triumphs, a blooming wave of sporting success in the country is bullishly expected to forge ahead.
Four years ago, the world was greeted with the Philippines’ first Olympic gold medal courtesy of Diaz’s unmatched weightlifting prowess. In 2024, Yulo struck gold twice for the nation. For the anticipated 2028 quadrennial event set in Los Angeles, what more will our Filipino athletes bring to the table?
While the nation basks in its recent sporting successes and anticipates more excellence, may the tide of unceasing support for the country’s athletes continue by advocating for greater avenues for their flourishing.
Undoubtedly, our Olympians fight every four years not only to etch their names into the record books but to embody every Filipino seeking to overcome life’s pressures and tribulations. In the current hour, there are athletes who are preparing for their day of victory, hoping to one day send a message that all Filipinos must realize: they too can achieve greatness.
