Filipino diaspora represented in Winter Youth Olympics

The Philippines will be sending three athletes to the upcoming 2024 Winter Youth Olympics.

Speed skater Peter Groseclose and skiers Avery Balbanida, and Laetaz Amihan Rabe will represent the Philippines in the Winter Youth Games set for January 19 to February 1 in Gangwon, South Korea.

While this is not the first time that the country will send delegates to the Winter Youth Games, the three young athletes are aware of the importance of representing a tropical country in winter sports.

The Philippines first sent athletes to the Winter Games during its first edition in 2012 with alpine skier Abel Tesfamariam and figure skater Michael Martinez, then in 2020 with alpine skier Ana Noelle Wahleithner.

"I realized that this was an opportunity to expose the sport to the Philippines and a bunch of Filipinos worldwide and abroad," Balbanida told GMA Integrated News.

The 16-year old Balbanida, son of both Filipino parents, is based in Calgary, Canada. He will compete in cross-country skiing.

"I wanted to show that us Filipinos na walang winter sa mainland, we can do and compete in sports like cross-country skiing as well."

[I wanted to show that us Filipinos who don't have winter in the mainland, we can do and compete in sports like cross-country skiing as well.]

Meanwhile, Balbanida's fellow skier Rabe said she wants to show Filipinos' talent in winter sports.

The 14-year old Rabe is based in Switzerland. She is the country's representative to slopestyle and big air skiing.

"I wanted to represent the Philippines because first of all, I am Filipino — pure blood. Both my parents are Filipino," Rabe said.

"Second of all, I just want to show Filipinos that we can do more sports even though we don't have the facilities for it, we can find alternatives and I just want to show them that we can also do winter sports."

Groseclose, 16 years old, will compete in short track speed skating. Groseclose last November finished fourth out of 50 competitors in the 1000m event of the ISU Jr. World Cup 1 and sixth out of 55 athletes in the 500m event.

"I'm half-Filipino and I'm very proud of that side of me," Groseclose said.

"When I got the opportunity to represent the Philippines, I was very excited about it. I think the speed skating program in the Philippines has a lot of potential and has improved over the years and it's such an honor to represent the Philippines and it's very fulfilling for me," he added.

Aside from the three athletes, Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation Jim Apelar is proud of the diaspora's representation on the global stage.

"This type of sport is for the diaspora Filipinos and me being a diaspora Filipino, it's an honor to always look back saan ba ang pinaggalingan natin na ma-represent natin sa buong mundo," he said.

"Kahit wala tayong snow, we're able to send kids from every looking corner of the world and represent the Philippines and itong tatlong ito is a testament of that greatness of our people and our nation. I thank each one of them for their dedication and pagpursigi nila na ma-represent ang Pilipinas kahit sa ibang bansa," Apelar added.

[This type of sport is for the diaspora Filipinos and me being a diaspora Filipino, it's an honor to always look back to where we came from and and be able to represent it to the whole world... Even if we don't have snow, we're able to send kids from every looking corner of the world and represent the Philippines. And these three are a testament of that greatness of our people and our nation. I thank each one of them for their dedication and perseverance to represent the Philippines even in other countries.]

Philippine Skating Union president Nikki Cheng, meanwhile, hopes the Winter Games will be a memorable one for the young athletes, especially since qualification to the events are tough, considering the age bracket of the competition.

"I hope that these athletes will have the time of their lives and I hope this will be a stepping stone for them to have bigger dreams and make it to the actual Olympics in the coming years," she said.

Philippine Olympic Committee president and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino, meanwhile, said that a podium finish may be a far cry but just having three athletes shows the country's determination in winter sports.

"Imagine a tropical country na may tatlong atletang kasama kahit ganyang wala namang snow sa atin at mapapag-practice-an," he told GMA Integrated News. "Mabigat 'pag-usapan kung magkaka-podium, pero God-willing, ibang level na 'yun 'pag nagka-podium."

[Imagine a tropical country that has three athletes qualified even if there is no snow in our country or places to practice. It's difficult to predict getting on the podium, but God willing. That's a different level to be able to reach the podium.]

“We’re living in a tropical country, but our spirit simply knows no boundaries. Our athletes are united in pursuing Olympic excellence and that’s also a testament to their Olympic spirit," Tolentino also said in a separate release.

Rugby head Ada Milby will be chef de mission for the Winter Youth Games and will be joined by Cheng and Ski federation secretary-general Jezreel Apelar.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News