Sporting Chance

In 1997, teenaged swimmer Juan Carlo Piccio failed to bag a single medal at the Jakarta Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. He was downhearted but never lost hope. His dream was to represent the Philippines at the 2000 Sydney Olympics -- that was his goal and it kept the fire in him burning.

Carlo, 18, emerged from the Jakarta bust more determined than ever to make waves. He enrolled at Mission Viejo High School in California and joined the Nadadores varsity swimming team under coach Bill Rose. The 5-7, 145-pound Ilonggo knew it wouldn't be easy living away from the comforts of home. He also knew that to make it to Sydney, he had to sacrifice and work his butt off.

Last year, Carlo was back at the SEA Games in Brunei. This time, he did the country proud by claiming the silver medal in the 1500-meter freestyle. He clocked 15:58.85 and became the first Filipino to break 16 minutes. His effort eclipsed the Olympic qualifying standard. Carlo took fourth in the 400-meter individual medley and also surpassed the Olympic standard to qualify in the event.

The hard work paid off. Carlo qualified for the Sydney Olympics in two events and will be the lone male swimmer in the Philippine delegation. He will be joined by two Filipina tankers Liza Danila and Kathy Echeverri.

After graduating from high school this year, Carlo will likely enroll in a US university. He's been invited by former Mission Viejo coach Kelly Kramer to enroll at the University of Minnesota on a scholarship. Kramer is now the Minnesota swimming varsity assistant coach.

Carlo's father Ernesto or Boy, a prominent Bacolod businessman, said his son hasn't decided where to go to college. "He's visited the Minnesota campus and he's quite impressed," said Boy, a La Salle alumnus. "Outside of the cold weather in Minnesota, he likes the school -- its academic standards, it swimming program, its rich sports tradition."

Boy has paid for his son's tuition and other expenses in the US the last two years. He recently got a $2,000 check from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to defray his son's training expenses. After Carlo won the silver in Brunei, the PSC promised a one-time $5,000 allowance for his Olympic training.

Since enrolling at Mission Viejo, Carlo has come home only twice -- for 10 days before the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games and for three weeks to taper off before the SEA Games last year. The visits weren't much of a vacation.

What about distractions? "No girlfriend for Carlo -- that's out of his mind," said Boy. "He's concentrating on his training and his studies."

A few weeks ago, Carlo placed third and clocked only .03 of a second off Mission Viejo schoolmate Torwai Sethsothorn's winning time at a major US national qualifying meet in Long Beach. Carlo's time was 3:58.81, a new Philippine record in the 400-meter individual medley.

"Carlo continues to improve," said Boy proudly. Torwai, incidentally, is ranked No. 35 in the world in the event. Carlo isn't ranked in the top 100 -- at least, not yet.

Boy and his wife Gina are booking plane tickets and hotel accommodations to watch their son in Sydney. They've already bought tickets to the eliminations and finals of both the 400-meter individual medley and 1500-meter freestyle events at a total cost of A$3,200 or the equivalent of about P85,000.

In tomorrow's column, find out what the Los Angeles Times says about Carlo.