Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann praised the outstanding performances of Filipino athletes while personally supporting the Philippine team in Paris.
“Our athletes have made an excellent start to our campaign in Paris. This demonstrates how collective efforts from both government and private sectors enable our athletes to maintain great mental and physical readiness throughout the competition,” Bachmann said.
Several Filipino athletes have kicked off their campaigns at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics with commendable performances, advancing to subsequent rounds and showcasing their skills against tough competition.
Carlos Edriel Yulo, the Philippines’ premier gymnast, achieved historic final spots in the All-Around, Vault, and Floor Exercise of Men’s Artistic Gymnastics. This marks a significant improvement from his performance at Tokyo 2020, where he only reached the final in Vault, narrowly missing a podium finish with a fourth-place standing.
Meanwhile, Joanie Delgaco made history as the first Filipina to excel in Olympic rowing. She delivered an impressive performance in the Women’s Single Sculls, finishing first in the repechage after securing fourth place in the qualification round.
In Women’s Fencing – Foil, Samantha Catantan made a strong entry into the Table of 64 with a comeback victory against Brazil’s Mariana Pistoia, winning 15-13. Despite her valiant efforts, she bowed out in the Table of 32 against world number 2 Arianna Errigo of Italy, concluding her Paris campaign. Catantan’s resilience, even while dealing with a knee injury and facing an Olympic veteran, earned widespread admiration from Filipino fans on social media.
Bachmann also witnessed Aira Villegas’ dominant victory over Yasmine Moutakki of Morocco, securing a unanimous decision win before the Philippine team takes a break from the Olympic schedule on July 29.
“It’s incredibly fulfilling to me, as a fan, to witness our Olympians excel and raise the bar. Their performances in every battle, win or lose, continue to elevate the success of Philippine sports,” he added.
Before the team’s scheduled break, gymnasts Levi Jung-Ruivivar, Emma Malabuyo, and Aleah Finnegan performed in the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics, proudly donning the national colors and showcasing their talents on the global stage.
