Delgaco, Catantan, Petecio aim to be role models for young athletes

MANILA, Philippines -- After encouraging performances in the Paris Olympics, trailblazers Joanie Delgaco, Sam Catantan and Nesthy Petecio emphasized the importance of inspiring the next generation of young athletes.

The three women athletes themselves had inspiring runs in Paris.

Delgaco was the first Filipina rower to qualify for the Games, where she eventually finished 20th in a field of 32 athletes.

Also the first Filipina fencer to qualify for the Olympics, Catantan, was ranked 32nd out of 34 fencers, but held her own against world No. 2 Arianna Errigo.

Petecio, of course, is the first Filipina to win a medal in Olympic boxing. She was also the first boxer from the Philippines to win multiple medals in the Games.

In an interview at the sidelines of the adidas athletes homecoming earlier in the week, Catantan stressed that being an inspiration to the youth is “definitely both an honor and a responsibility.”

“We’re very proud now. We’re finally able to qualify, a Filipina, in our respective sports but at the same time, we are being looked up to by the youth. We want to inspire them to first, not give up even with the challenges,” the 22-year-old fencer said.

“Ate Joanie and I, we had a hard time trying to qualify. The process before competing, the training and everything else, it was difficult… We hope we can inspire children to try sports, and not just fencing and rowing,” she added.

Delgaco, for her part, admitted that seeing fellow Olympians Eumir Marcial and Petecio competing in the Tokyo Olympics pushed her to try and qualify for Paris.

“Before, I was dreaming of making it to the Olympics. Kuya Marcial inspired me and I told myself, ‘hopefully, next time, I’ll be there.’ I saw him and Nesthy in the television. Then, before entering the Olympic village, I teared up a little because that’s how it felt to represent the country,” she bared.

The 26-year-old pride of Iriga, Camarines Sur said that her dream got her going, even if this was already her third try to make it to the Olympics.

“For me, I am very grateful that we were able to make history. I am really happy because a lot of athletes inspired me, and hopefully, the youth will also be inspired to make it to the Olympics,” she added.

Further, Petecio said that she is happy with being able to inspire the youth, as evidenced by how insanely popular her “eyyy” pose got.

So much so, that it was one of her most favorite memories in Paris.

With this, she called on young women to not be afraid of trying out combat sports, especially boxing.

“First of all, it is safe. I get why parents may have apprehensions, but I assure boxing is safe. I hope more people will support it and I encourage you all to try boxing,” Petecio said.

“But, not just boxing. All sports, whatever you want and whatever you love.”

Petecio also bared that she is eyeing to build up a boxing gym in Davao del Sur, and plans are already being crafted.

It was a historic stint in Paris for the Philippines, as the country won two gold medals courtesy of gymnast Carlos Yulo. Petecio and fellow boxer Aira Villegas also won bronze medals, giving the Philippines its best finish in 100 years of participation in the Games.