Samantha Catantan’s qualification to the Paris Olympics has inspired the people who originally formed the grassroots sports program that discovered and helped her develop her talents to do even more.
Christian Canlas, one of the first coaches who handled Catantan in her early years as a young foil fencer, said interest is now growing in the sport and with the Paris Olympics just around the corner.
“Mas na-inspire kami na kaya natin ito. Iyung mga bata ngayon, na gusting matuto, dumarami pa,” said Canlas, who is currently teaching kids who are into sport at the Canlas Fencing School in Pittsburgh St, Cubao, Quezon City.
Canlas said they are dealing with an increasing number of enrolees, which was sparked by Catantan’s success in the sport. And it’s not just with kids who are seeking to enroll in his club, but in other clubs as well.
The 22-year-old Catantan, who is currently in Venice, Italy, for a training camp, first learned fencing through Canlas under the QC Sports Enhancement Program (QCSEP) when they had an outreach program on the streets of San Francisco del Monte.
It was in the working class neighborhood of San Pedro St., back in 2011 when Catantan and her three sisters picked up swords and first sparred with Canlas, along with many other kids.
Her dad Jon was a jeepney driver back then, and her Mom Aileen, who sells kakanin, just wanted to keep her kids off the streets at night, decided to let Sam and her sisters join classes.
Samantha was part of the fifth batch of enthusiasts to whom Canlas imparted lessons before he turned her over to University of the East coach Rolando Canlas Jr.
“Nung tinuruan ko, nakita kong may kakaiba sa kanya. Seryoso siya. Iyung ibang bata, playful. Kaya inalam ko background, inencourage ko magulang niya, saka ko tinuloy-tinuloy ang pagturo sa kanya,” said Christian, in recalling how Samantha was molded as a good fencer.
Catantan is now preparing for her stint at the Olympiad, following her successful campaign in the Asian & Oceania Olympic Qualification Tournament (OQT) recently in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.
In that OQT, Catantan claimed the lone spot in women’s foil for the Paris Olympics berth,
At first, Sam and her now 20-year-old sister Ysah were starting at fencing, at a time when their family was struggling with their finances.
Her sisters Sophie, 14, and Shy, are now also into fencing.
“I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I reflect on this incredible journey to qualify for the Paris Olympics 2024. None of this would have been possible without the support and belief of so many amazing people in my life,” said Catantan, when she reflected on her beginnings.
The QCSEP program was formed back in 2006 through Quezon City Councilor Joseph Juico, and it had a lot of enrollees in basketball, volleyball, boxing, and street dancing.
Canlas recalled that there was not much interest in fencing, and they initially had no enrollees until Juico’s staff members did an outreach program in the neighborhoods of the Frisco area.