What has happened since '96?

2004 Athens Olympics No. of athletes (first-timers) – 16 (11) Flag-bearer – Romeo Brin (replaced fellow boxer and first choice Chris Camat who was to see action the day after the opening ceremonies) Incentives to gold winner – P8 million (Breakdown: Congress through Republic Act 9064 – P5 million, Samsung – P1 million, Country Fresh Chicken – P1 million, Pacific Internet Phils. Inc. – P1 million) Closest to a gold medal – Toni Rivero loses, 3-2, in the semifinals of the women’s middleweight category in taekwondo. She also falls, 6-2, in the repechage to lose a shot at the bronze. Sound familiar? “All of the boxers are medal prospects. But Harry [Tañamor] might have the best chance." – Manny Lopez, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, on his gold-medal projection. Above expectations – Jasmin Figueroa, 19 years old, ranks 27th in a field of 64 names in the women’s individual competitions in archery, the best finish by a Filipino archer in Olympic history. Below expectations – No one from among the highly touted boxers entered the quarterfinals. Countries winning their first gold medal – Chile, Chinese-Taipei, Israel, United Arab Emirates How Team Philippines fared – Archery: Jasmin Figueroa, women’s individual – won first round 132-130 vs. Italy; lost second round 153-150 vs. Spain Athletics: Eduardo Buenavista, men’s marathon – 67th of 81 finishers Lerma Bulauitan-Gabito, women’s long jump – ranked 32nd of 39 Boxing: Romeo Brin, men’s light welterweight – won first round 43-35 vs. Sweden; lost second round 33-13 vs. Thailand Chris Camat, men’s middleweight – lost first round 35-13 vs. Russia Violito Payla, men’s flyweight – lost first round 36-26 vs. Uzbekistan Harry Tañamor, men’s light flyweight – won first round 17-12 vs. Tajikistan; lost second round 42-25 vs. Korea Shooting: Jethro Dionisio, men’s trap – ranked 32nd of 35 Swimming: Timmy Chua, men’s 100m breaststroke – heats / ranked 50th of 59 Miguel Molina, men’s 200m freestyle – heats / 42nd of 59 Miguel Molina, men’s 200m breaststroke – heats / 38th of 46 Miguel Molina, men’s 200m Individual Medley – heats / 33rd of 48 Miguel Molina, men’s 400m Individual Medley – heats / 34th of 36 Miguel Mendoza, men’s 400m freestyle – heats / 36th of 46 Miguel Mendoza, men’s 1,500m freestyle – heats / 34th of 34 Jaclyn Pangilinan, women’s 100m breaststroke – heats / 31st of 48 Jaclyn Pangilinan, women’s 200m breaststroke – heats / 20th of 31 James Walsh, men’s 200m butterfly – heats / 37th of 39 Taekwondo: Donald Geisler, men’s middleweight – lost first round by superiority vs. Turkey Tsholmee Go, men’s flyweight – lost first round, 7-6, vs. Spain Mary Antoinette Rivero, women’s welterweight – won first round by superiority vs. Argentina; lost second round 10-4 vs. Greece; lost repechage 6-2 vs. Korea 2000 Sydney Olympics No. of athletes (first-timers) – 21 (20) Flag-bearer – Donald Geisler Closest to a gold medal – Not even close. The Sydney Olympiad is the most futile RP campaign in the post-Moscow boycott era, with the Filipino fighters—considered the best hope for a gold medal—winning only twice in the entire tournament. (After boxer Arlan Lerio and jin Roberto Cruz beat their preliminary-round opponents, they never got past the second round.) Trivia no.1 – Hawaii-raised Filipino boxer Brian Viloria represents the US in the light-flyweight event. He wins 8-6 vs. a Russian in the first round before he falls 6-4 to a Frenchman in the next stage. As a pro, Viloria goes on to win the World Boxing Council light-flyweight title in 2005. Sounds familiar? “We have nothing to be ashamed of. Our athletes gave their best, but the breaks went against us." – Salvador Andrada, RP chief of mission, at the closing of the Olympics. Trivia no.2 – Jasmin Luis is the country’s first ever female entry in Olympic shooting. Countries winning their first gold medal – Cameroon, Colombia, Mozambique Trivia no.3 – Benjamin Tolentino is the country’s first ever entry in Olympic rowing. How they fared - Archery: Jennifer Chan, women’s individual – lost first round 160-143 vs. Turkey; finished 59th of 64 Athletics: Eduardo Buenavista, men’s 3000m steeplechase – ranked 14th of 14 in heats Lerma Bulauitan-Gabito, women’s 100m – fifth of eight in heats Boxing: Danilo Lerio, men’s light flyweight – bye, first round; lost second round 17-15 vs. Spain Arlan Lerio, men’s flyweight – won first round Referee-stopped Contest vs. Uganda; lost via 80-79 countback (after 18-18 score) vs. Poland Larry Semillano, men’s lightweight – lost first round Referee-stopped Contest vs. Ukraine Romeo Brin, men’s light welterweight – lost first round 8-5 vs. Belarus Diving: Zardo Domenios, men’s springboard – ranked 44th of 49 Sheila Mae Perez, women’s springboard – 32nd of 43 Equestrian: Toni Leviste, mixed jumping individual – ranked 61st of 71 Rowing: Benjamin Tolentino, men’s single sculls – 18th of 23 Shooting Jasmin Luis, women’s air rifle (10m) – tied for 44th of 49 Swimming: Miguel Mendoza, men’s 400m freestyle – heats / ranked 36th of 46 Juan Carlos Piccio, men’s 1,500m freestyle – heats / 34th of 40 Juan Carlos Piccio, men’s 400m Individual Medley – heats / 37th of 45 Marie-Lizza Danila, women’s 100m backstroke – heats / 37th of 46 Jenny Guerrero, women’s 100m breaststroke – heats / 35th of 41 Jenny Guerrero, women’s 200m breaststroke – heats / 31st of 35 Taekwondo: Roberto Cruz, men’s flyweight – won preliminary match 4-(minus-1) vs. Guatemala; lost quarterfinals 7-5 vs. Argentina Eva Marie Ditan, women’s flyweight – lost preliminary match 6-1 vs. Turkey Jennifer Strachan, women’s featherweight – bye, preliminary match; lost quarterfinals 8-3 vs. Vietnam; lost repechage 9-3 vs. Turkey Donald Geisler, men’s featherweight – lost first round via superiority (after 4-4 score) vs. Sweden 1996 Olympic Games No. of athletes (first-timers) – 12 (eight) Flag bearer – Reynaldo Galido Cash incentives to gold winner – at least P9 million (Breakdown: Congress – P5 million, Philippine Sports Commission P1 million, Philippine Olympic Committee P1 million, Powerade P1 million, businessman William Gatchalian) Countries winning their first gold medal – Burundi, Hong Kong, Syria, Thailand Closest to a gold medal – Mansueto Velasco’s near-mint stint is the closest by a Filipino since the 1964 Tokyo Games. Most heartbreaking loss(es) – Besides Velasco’s defeat in the final round, flyweight Elias Recaido’s lopsided loss to a Cuban in the quarterfinals prevented what could have been a two-medal boast for the Pinoys. Quotable – “If I had money then, I wouldn’t let my sons become boxers because who wants to watch them get beaten up? You don’t see children of rich people becoming boxers." – Mansueto Velasco Sr., father of Olympic silver medalist Mansueto Jr. One and only – Weena Lima, who competed in the women’s singles event in badminton, is the first and last Filipino badminton player. It is badminton’s second appearance in the Olympics following its debut in 1992. How they fared - Athletics: Roy Vence, men’s marathon – ranked 100th of 111 finishers Elma Muros, women’s long jump – 30th of 40 entries Badminton: Weena Lim, women’s singles – lost first round vs. Poland Boxing: Romeo Brin, men’s lightweight – lost first round 24-13 vs. Cuba Reynaldo Galido, men’s light welterweight – lost first round 18-2 vs. Germany Elias Recaido, men’s flyweight – won first round 13-2 vs. Zimbabwe; won second round 12-8 vs. Moldova; lost quarterfinals 18-3 vs. Cuba Mansueto Velasco, men’s light flyweight – won first round Referee-stopped Contest vs. Chinese-Taipei; won second round 14-5 vs. Cuba; won quarterfinal round 20-10 vs. Morocco; won semifinal 22-10 vs. Spain; lost final round 19-6 vs. Bulgaria Virgilio Vicera, men’s bantamweight – lost first round 19-4 vs. Korea Equestrian: Denise Cojuangco, mixed jumping, individual – ranked 72nd of 82 entries Shooting: George Earnshaw, men’s trap – ranked 56th of 58 George Earnshaw, men’s double trap –27th of 35 Swimming: Ryan Papa, men’s 200m freestyle – ranked 35th of 43 Ryan Papa, men’s 100m backstroke – 31st of 50 Ryan Papa, men’s 200m backstroke – 25th of 39 Akiko Thomson, women’s 50m freestyle – 51st of 55 Akiko Thomson, women’s 100m backstroke – 28th of 36 Akiko Thomson, women’s 200m backstroke – 29th of 33 Akiko Thomson, women’s 200m Individual Medley – 38th of 43