Every athlete dreams of competing in the Olympics, and for the Summer Olympics 2024 in Paris, the Philippines is sending 22 Filipino athletes to represent the country across nine sporting events. The excitement is palpable! From seasoned veterans to promising newcomers, let’s get to know our Olympic squad and show our support as they strive for glory.

Athletics

Current world number 2 vaulter EJ Obiena secured his Olympic ticket after winning the silver medal at the Bauhaus Galan in Sweden. The 28-year-old athlete also clinched two gold medals at the Memoriał Czesława Cybulskiego and Irena Szewinska Memorial held in Poland last month.

And EJ won’t be alone! Yesterday, the World Athletics and Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association announced that Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang Tolentino will vie for gold in the women’s 400m hurdles and men’s 110m hurdles, respectively.

Boxing

After winning silver and bronze medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, and Eumir Marcial are ready to win the gold this time around.

Aira Villegas and Hergie Bacyadan are joining them, and they are excited to represent our country for the first time. This is our largest boxing delegation to the Olympics in nearly three decades!

Fencing

Despite injuring her left knee, Samantha Catantan clinched victory in the women’s foil category at the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier last April in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. It has been over three decades since we had a Filipino fencer at the Olympics, and there’s no doubt Samantha will make us all proud.

Golf

A total of 120 athletes will participate in this year’s Olympic golf competition, 60 in each of the men’s and women’s events. Filipino golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina have secured their spots in the Top 60 and are currently ranked 35 and 56 in the Women’s Olympic Golf Rankings. 

Gymnastics

After his fourth-place finish in the men’s vault event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Carlos Yulo is set to chase redemption and bring home the country’s first-ever gold medal in gymnastics, or perhaps even a couple more in Paris.

The world-renowned gymnast secured his Olympic berth with a stellar performance in the floor exercise event at the World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, last October 2023, which solidified his position as the top qualifier.

Meanwhile, we have not one, not two, but three artistic gymnasts competing in the women’s events. Aleah Finnegan, Emma Malabuyo, and Levi Ruivivar will proudly raise the Philippine flag on the global stage and vie a piece of the podium.

Judo

Japanese-Filipino athlete Kiyomi Watanabe hopes that the second time’s the charm as she seeks to bag the gold medal in this year’s judo competition in Paris. This marks the country’s fourth judo appearance in the Olympics. Watanabe is ranked 92nd worldwide and has won medals in international tournaments, such as the 2013 Southeast Asian Games and the 2014 Asian Youth Judo Championship.

Rowing

Joanie Delgaco just made history as the first-ever Filipina rower to have qualified in the Olympics after she ranked fourth in the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Qualification Regatta held in South Korea. Fun fact: She used to be a volleyball player until she was encouraged by her assistant coach to try out rowing.

Swimming

After two decades, two Filipino swimmers will represent the Philippines in the Olympics. Jarod Hatch and Kayla Sanchez are ready to make a splash and bring pride to the country. Jarod will compete in the men’s 100-meter butterfly, while Kayla will participate in the women’s 100-meter freestyle.

Weightlifting

While we won’t see 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidylyn Diaz back in action on the weightlifting platform, we still have John Ceniza, Elreen Ando, and Vanessa Sarno to carry on her legacy. John and Vanessa are set to make their Olympic debuts, while Elreen seeks to bounce back stronger from her 2020 Tokyo Olympics stint. 

Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, Tiktok, and Youtube for the l8est entertaining, useful, and informative lists!