MEET THE FILIPINO ATHLETES IN THE 2024 PARIS OLYMPICS

(SPOT.ph) The 2024 Paris Olympics is only hours away from kicking off with 22 Filipinos in nine sports set to compete against the world’s best athletes.

Our lone gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz might be missing out on what would have been her fifth Olympics, but there are still plenty of talented Filipino athletes to look forward to this season. After all, this year's Team Philippines delegation is the biggest the country has sent to the Olympic Games since 1992.

The Philippines has so far won 14 medals: one gold, five silver, and eight bronze. Boxing has been the best sport for the Philippine team, with eight medals coming from boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, and Eumir Marcial, all of whom are in Paris as of writing. We're waiting to see how many more our team bags during the Summer Olympics from July 26 to August 11. 

Also read: 10 Filipino Athletes Who Brought Home Olympic Medals

Team Philippines at the 2024 Paris Olympics

EJ Obiena – Athletics, Men’s Pole Vault

EJ Obiena picked up a pole at six years old and never looked back since.

He made history by becoming the first Filipino pole vaulter to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where he finished 11th in the finals. Obiena holds the national record with a personal best of 5.93 meters, achieved at the Golden Roof Challenge in Austria in 2021.

He has also secured gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games and has consistently ranked among the top in the Asian Athletics Championships.

Also read: EJ Obiena Is Now World's Fifth Best Pole Vaulter

Carlo Paalam – Boxing, Men’s 57kg

Carlo Paalam gained international recognition with his silver medal win in the men’s flyweight division at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He continued his success by clinching gold at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in the 57kg category.

Paalam has been a consistent performer, securing his position as a leading contender in his weight class. His journey from a street scavenger to an Olympic medalist has also turned him into a symbol of hope for many Filipinos. 

Also read: Carlo Paalam Makes It Four: The Philippines Beats 1932 Olympic Record

Eumir Marcial – Boxing, Men’s 80kg

In 2011, Eumir Marcial was the first Filipino to win gold at the World Junior Boxing Championship at just 15 years old. Now, Marcial holds an undefeated record in his professional middleweight boxing career.

He won a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with guidance from Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach. He also earned a silver medal at the 2019 AIBA World Boxing Championships.

Aira Villegas – Boxing, Women’s 50kg

Aira Villegas is a rising talent in women’s boxing. She punched her way to Paris with a 5-0 win in the 50kg quarterfinals of the 1st World Qualification Tournament in Italy.

She's competed twice at the IBA Women's World Boxing Championships in the 52kg division, but her most notable win is her bronze medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Nesthy Petecio – Boxing, Women’s 57kg

Nesthy Petecio is a seasoned boxer with a silver medal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the featherweight division. She has now moved to the 75kg weight class for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Her big break with boxing came at the age of 11, when she won a match against a male opponent much bigger than herself. Since then, Petecio has won gold at the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships and multiple medals at the Southeast Asian Games.

Also read: Nesthy Petecio Raises LGBT Flag After Silver Medal Win at Tokyo Olympics

Hergie Bacyadan – Boxing, Women’s 75kg

Hergie Bacyadan is an emerging force in boxing. His background in wushu and vovinam has given him a distinctive edge in the ring, with a focus on agility and precision that complements his powerful punches.

Bacyadan's transition to boxing started with his participation in the 2019 ASBC Asian Grand Slam Boxing Championships in China, which was part of his efforts to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. He might not have gotten it then, but he's secured the bag now.

Samantha Catantan – Fencing, Women’s Individual Foil

Fencing is back in the spotlight, thanks to Samantha Catantan. She is the first Filipino fencer to qualify for the Olympics, competing in the women’s individual foil.

She made her debut for the Philippines at 15 when she won a silver at the 2017 Southeast Asia Games. Two years later, she won a gold medal at the 2019 Asian Under-23 Fencing Championships.

While pursuing a master's degree in the United States, she also participated in the NCAA Division I Fencing Championships for the Pennsylvania State University.

Bianca Pagdanganan – Golf, Women’s Individual

Bianca Pagdanganan began her lifelong love affair with golf when she was just seven years old in the Philippines. She is renowned for her exceptional driving distance, ranking among the top in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) for this skill. She also made a notable Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, finishing in 43rd place.

In addition to her Olympic performance, Pagdanganan secured a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games and a gold medal at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

Dottie Ardina – Golf, Women’s Individual

Dottie Ardina is an experienced professional golfer with a successful career on the Epson Tour and consistent performances on the LPGA Tour. She turned professional at the age of 19, after a highly successful amateur career that included multiple victories in junior and amateur tournaments.

Her notable achievements include winning the 2020 Ballarat Icons Pro-Am and the Copper Rock Championship. Right now, Ardina is #267 in the world ranking.

Carlos Yulo – Gymnastics, Men’s Artistic

Hopes are high for popular contender Carlos Yulo. With multiple medals under his belt, Yulo is easily the most successful Filipino gymnast in history.

His most significant achievement is winning a gold medal in the floor exercise at the 2019 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he placed fourth on the vault, and is now looking to secure a podium finish in Paris.

Also read: Carlos Yulo Says 'Babawi Ako' as He Looks to Paris Olympics

Aleah Finnegan – Gymnastics, Women’s Artistic

Aleah Finnegan is the first Filipino woman gymnast to qualify for the Olympics since 1964. She olds dual citizenship in the United States and the Philippines, which has allowed her to compete at high levels for both countries.

After representing the United States at various levels, Finnegan switched her alliance to the Philippines, immediately securing two gold medals at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games. Fingers crossed she surprise us again at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Emma Malabuyo – Gymnastics, Women’s Artistic

Emma Malabuyo is recognized for her strong performances in balance beam and floor exercise. She was previously part of Team USA's alternate team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This time, she is representing the Philippines in Paris.

She debuted for the Philippines at the 2023 Asian Championships, helping the team finish in 5th place. Malabuyo also won a silver medal in floor exercise, the highest result for a Filipina gymnast at the Asian Championships.

Levi Ruivivar – Gymnastics, Women’s Artistic

Levi Ruivivar is the youngest athlete in Team Philippines at 18 years old. She has steadily made her mark in various national and international competitions for her exceptional balance beam and floor routines. Not to mention she has quite the following on social media. 

Ruivivar also used to represent the United States before switching to the Philippines in 2023. At the 2024 Asian Championships, she placed sixth in the all-around and qualified for the uneven bars final, where she won bronze.

Kiyomi Watanabe – Judo, Women’s 63kg

Kiyomi Watanabe is a distinguished judoka with a remarkable track record. She made history by winning a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games, becoming the first Filipino judoka to achieve this feat. She comes from a family with a strong judo background; her mother  is from Cebu.

Watanabe also competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but did not advance beyond the Round of 32. Here's to hoping she lands a better kick this time!

Joanie Delgaco – Rowing, Women’s Single Sculls

Joanie Delgaco is the first Filipino rower to qualify for the Olympics. She has represented the country in numerous international competitions, including the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, where she won a gold medal.

She finished fourth in the Final A of the women’s single sculls in the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Qualification Regatta in Korea with an impressive registered time of 7:49:39.

Jarod Hatch – Swimming, Men’s 100m Butterfly

Jarod Hatch is a rising star in men’s swimming, specializing in the 100m butterfly. Most recently, he won a silver medal at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games.

Hatch has consistently improved his personal best times, setting the Philippine national record for the men's 100m butterfly with a time of 52.87 seconds in the heats of the 2023 World Aquatics Championships.

Kayla Sanchez – Swimming, Women’s 100m Freestyle

Kayla Sanchez is a top-tier swimmer known for her exceptional speed in the 100m freestyle. She has dual citizenship, allowing her to compete for both Canada and the Philippines.

Sanchez's career highlights include winning gold and silver medals at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships as part of the Canadian relay teams. It wouldn't be until 2022 when she finally made her competitive swimming debut for the Philippines at the Asian Games.

John Ceniza – Weightlifting, Men’s 61kg

John Ceniza is a prominent figure in Filipino weightlifting who secured a silver medal at the 2019 and 2023 Southeast Asian Games.

He also delivered a strong performance at the 2020 Roma Weightlifting World Cup, where he lifted a total of 287kg, earning a bronze medal. Eventually, he garnered enough Olympic ranking points to qualify for Paris.

Elreen Ando – Weightlifting, Women’s 59kg

Elreen Ando is the weightlifter who bested Hidilyn Diaz for a spot in the same weight category for the 2024 Paris Olympics. She also represented the Philippines at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she finished in the top 10, lifting a total of 222kg.

The Cebuano started weightlifting at 13 and was scouted at 22 by former Olympian Ramon Solis. Her recent accomplishments include a gold medal at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, where she lifted 230kg. 

Vanessa Sarno – Weightlifting, Women’s 71kg

Vanessa Sarno captured international attention by winning gold at the 2021 Asian Weightlifting Championships with a total lift of 229kg. She continued her success by dominating the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, where she won gold with a total lift of 239kg.

Sarno began weightlifting inspired by her father and cousins, eventually winning a gold medal at the 2014 Batang Pinoy. She has represented the Philippines in various international competitions, earning medals at the 2019 Asian Youth and Junior Championships and the 2020 IWF Online World Youth Championship.

John Cabang Tolentino – Men’s 110m Hurdles

John Cabang Tolentino is an emerging talent in track and field. He has shown consistent improvement in his performances, clocking a personal best and national record of 13.37 seconds in frame.

Tolentino’s speed and agility over the hurdles have marked him as a promising athlete for the Philippines, especially now more than ever as he heads towards the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Lauren Hoffman – Women’s 400m Hurdles

Lauren Hoffman started representing the Philippines after a successful college career at Duke University, where she won a bronze medal in the NCAA Outdoor Championships and multiple golds in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Eventually, Hoffman pursued dual citizenship and qualified for Team Philippines in the Olympics by ranking 41st in the world for women's 400m hurdles. She most recently set the national record for the 400m distance with 55.72 seconds in her silver medal finish at the Drake Relays. 

2024-07-26T08:02:59Z dg43tfdfdgfd