PARIS (Via PLDT Home) — Before Samantha Catantan went into action on Sunday, she got a little helping hand from her coach at Penn State University in Matteo Zenarro.
The 48-year-old Zennaro, who helped Italy bag a bronze medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was in Venice, Italy with Catantan when she underwent a three-week camp before the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Zennaro then joined Catantan at the Philippine training camp in Metz to help her get reminded of what she needs to do during her bouts.
“I can try to help her,” said Zenarro, who joined national coach Rolando “Amat” Canlas in planning her moves on the piste, with Mariana Pistoia of Brazil as her first opponent on Sunday in the table of 64 direct elimination (DE) in the women’s foil fencing meet at the Grand Palais in France.
Catantan, a first-time Olympian, spent hours of training with her coach, observing the previous fights of Pistoia, and other rivals in her bracket.
“He has Olympic experience. He is well known as an athlete and a coach,” said Catantan of her Italian coach.
Zenarro reminded Catantan the importance of reactions, and watching her opponents’ movements, before she can do her thing.
“Inaral namin. Malalampasan niya ito,” said Catantan’s Filipino coach Rolando “Amatov” Canlas, before Samantha went to practice the other day.
Pistoia, an army officer back in Brazil, barely joins international meets. She earned an Olympic quota spot for Paris 2024 after winning the Pan American Olympic Qualifier in San Jose, Costa Rica.
A close encounter with Venezuelan Isis Gimenez saw Pistoia winning, 11-10, in the final.
“Hindi siya masyado sumasali sa mga worlds. 50-50 tayo du’n. Puwede manalo,” said Canlas.
