The future of 19 Filipino athletes who competed and won medals in the Tokyo Olympics will not be neglected.
The plan for their future will be discussed when sports officials convene a series of meetings in the coming days. Their participation in competitions that will help them qualify for the Paris Olympics will be mapped out and tackled in detail.
Sustaining the goals and gains made in the Olympiad will be put on review, according to Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez.
Ramirez, who will sit down with Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino and representatives from the private sector, said this after he got back from Tokyo, and while undergoing quarantine.
“We have to confer with Cong. Tolentino and the private sector on these athletes. Iyung 19 na iyan, tuluy-tuloy lang kanilang training up to the Olympics in Paris, Los Angeles and Brisbane,” said Ramirez.
The government sports agency is now crafting a playbook, and it will serve as a guide for athletes, coaches, the national sports associations and the private sponsors in their efforts to to prepare selected athletes for major international competitions.
It’s based on the experiences of these 19 athletes, and how they prepared and participated in their respective events in the quadrennial meet.
Many of these athletes were first timers in joining Olympic events, and they have found it difficult to make podium finishes.
And they need to be given numerous chances to be able to join future Olympic-related events.
“Bihirang-bihiran ang isang debutante, ang isang baguhan sa Olympics na Manalo ng medalya, lalo na ng gold,” said Ramirez.
Ramirez drew an example out of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz’s experience. Diaz, now 30, needed to join four Olympiad before she is finally able to bring home the gold medal.
Now done with her fourth Olympic stint, Diaz may still see action in the Paris Games, if she is still up to it.
Diaz led the Philippine campaign with a gold medal in the 55-kg. class of women’s weightlifting, with boxers Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio getting silvers in the men’s flyweight and women’s featherweight categories.
On the other hand, pro-bound Eumir Marcial took the bronze medal in the men’s middleweight.
Filipino athletes excelled in the 1932 Games with three bronze medals, courtesy of Simeon Toribio in the men’s high jump, Jose Villanueva in the bantamweight division of men’s boxing, and Teofilo Yldefonso in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke.
Ramirez said athletes who came home empty handed will have another chance, like Ernest John Obiena (athletics), Carlos Yulo (gymnastics), Irish Magno (boxing), Cris Nievarez (rowing), Kurt Barbosa (taekwondo), Margielyn Didal (skateboarding), Elreen Ando (weightlifting), Jayson Valdez (shooting), Juvic Pagunsan (golf), Kiyomi Watanabe (judo), Kristina Knott (athletics), Yuka Saso (golf), Bianca Pagdanganan (golf), swimmers Luke Gebbie and Remedy Rule.