Filipinos retrace roots in Paris Olympics

MANILA, Philippines —  It’s back to where it all started for the Philippines in the Olympics.

A hundred years ago in Paris, the country made its very first appearance in the quadrennial Games via sprinter David Nepomuceno.

Albay pride Nepomuceno competed in the men’s 100 meter and 200-meter runs – the centerpiece events of the 1924 Olympiad that later served as the backdrop of the classic historical sports film “Chariots of Fire.”

Nepomuceno and his fellow delegate in the pioneering team, athlete, physician and sports administrator Regino Ylanan blazed the trail for more Olympians from the Philippines and eventually gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz in the previous Games in Tokyo.

“This year marks a historic milestone – our centennial anniversary of competing in the Summer Olympics. We’re incredibly proud to be among Asia’s first and Southeast Asia’s trailblazing Olympians,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.

“Let’s use this ‘Philippine Olympics 100 Years’ as a springboard for future success,” he added.