Filipino athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympics
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The Philippines will send 22 athletes to the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics as the country also marks its 100th year of participation in the Summer Games.
The Paris Olympics is set to take place from July 26 up to August 11, 2024 in France.
Here are the qualified athletes for the Paris Olympics:
Filipinos qualified for 2024 Paris Olympics
EJ Obiena, Athletics (pole vault)
Pole vaulter EJ Obiena was the first to qualify for the Paris Olympics after meeting the entry standard of 5.82 meters in the BAUHAUS-Galan leg of the Diamond League in Stockholm, Sweden. He holds the Asian record in pole vault at 6 meters. This is his second consecutive stint in the Olympics.
READ MORE | EJ Obiena's quest to be the best
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2019 Asian Athletics Championships; 2019 World University Games; 2019, 2021, 2023 SEA Games; 2022 Asian Games; 2023 Asian Athletics Championships
- Silver: 2015 SEA Games; 2023 World Athletics Championships
- Bronze: 2017 Asian Athletics Championships; 2022 World Championships
Personal best: 6.0 meters (national record, Asian record)
John Cabang Tolentino, Athletics (110m hurdles)
Spain-based athlete John Cabang Tolentino has been breaking records for the Philippines as he takes the road to Paris one hurdle at a time. Tolentino qualified for the men's 110m hurdles event. He holds the national record for the said event at 13.37 seconds.
READ MORE | John Cabang Tolentino's much awaited Olympic stint
Major achievements:
- Bronze: 2023 SEA Games (110m hurdles); 2024 Asian Indoor Championships (60m Hurdles)
Personal best: 13.37 - 110m hurdles (national record)
Lauren Hoffman, Athletics (400m hurdles)
The daughter of a Filipina mother and American father, Lauren Hoffman, who grew up in the States, started representing the Philippine flag only in 2023. Hoffman qualified for the 400m hurdles. She holds the national record for for the said event with 55.72 seconds.
READ MORE | Lauren Hoffman looks to hurdle Paris Olympics too
Personal best: 55.72 - 400m hurdles (national record)
Carlos Yulo, Artistic Gymnastics
Carlos Yulo booked his second trip to the Olympics after placing as the highest-ranked eligible athlete in his pet event, the floor exercise, in the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. In the Tokyo Olympics, Yulo missed the floor exercise finals, but qualified in the vault finals where he fell just short -- 0.017 points short of a bronze medal.
READ MORE | Carlos Yulo goes all-around this time around in Paris Olympics
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2019 World Championships (floor); 2021 World Championships (vault); 2022 Asian Championships (floor, vault, parallel bars); 2023 Asian Championships (floor, vault, parallel bars); 2024 Asian Championships (all-around, floor, vault, parallel bars)' 2019 SEA Games (all-around, floor)' 2021 SEA Games (floor, still rings, all-around, vault, horizontal bars); 2023 SEA Games (all-around, parallel bars); 2024 FIG World Cup - Doha leg (parallel bars); 2023 FIG World Cup - Baku leg (vault, parallel bars); 2023 FIG World Cup - Doha leg (floor)
- Silver: 2021 World Championships (parallel bars); 2022 World Championships (vault); 2022 Asian Championships (all-around); 2023 Asian Championships (all-around); 2019 SEA Games (pommel horse, still rings, vault, parallel bars, horizontal bars); 2021 SEA Games (team, parallel bars); 2023 SEA Games (team, still rings); 2024 FIG World Cup - Doha leg (vault); 2023 FIG World Cup - Doha leg (parallel bars)
- Bronze: 2018 World Championships (floor); 2022 World Championships (parallel bars); 2023 Asian Championships (horizontal bar); 2024 FIG World Cup - Doha leg (floor); 2023 FIG World Cup - Doha leg (vault); 2023 FIG World Cup - Cottbus leg (parallel bars)
Aleah Finnegan, Artistic Gymnastics
Filipino-American gymnast Aleah Finnegan came from a family of gymnasts. She booked her first appearance for the Philippines in the Olympics after placing 32nd in the women's all-around event in the World Gymnastics Championships. This was enough to include her to the 14 Olympic slots allotted from the Worlds. From previously representing the United States, Finnegan switched federations in 2022 and decided to represent the Philippines.
READ MORE | Aleah Finnegan proudly carries PHL colors in Olympics debut
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2021 SEA Games (team, vault)
- Silver: 2021 SEA Games (all-around, balance beam)
- Bronze: 2023 Asian Championships (vault, balance beam)
Levi Ruivivar, Artistic Gymnastics
For Filipino-American gymnast Levi Ruivivar, switching federations is more than just about grabbing opportunities — it's about representing her family's heritage. The former US gymnast, who now represents the Philippines, booked a slot to the Paris Games after a silver medal finish in the uneven bars of the 2024 FIG World Cup.
READ MORE | Levi Ruivivar wears PHL colors in Olympics for late grandpa
Major achievements:
- Silver: 2024 FIG World Cup - Doha leg (uneven bars)
- Bronze: 2024 Asian Championships (uneven bars)
Emma Malabuyo, Artistic Gymnastics
Malabuyo became the fourth gymnast from the Philippines to qualify for the Summer Games as she bagged a bronze medal in the individual all-around event of the Asian Gymnastics Championships. From being an alternate in USA Gymnastics, she switched federations in 2023 where she made her debut for the Philippines in the Asian Championships.
READ MORE | Emma Malabuyo and her Olympic journey from falling short to going to the big stage
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2024 Asian Championships (floor)
- Silver: 2023 Asian Championships (floor); 2024 FIG World Cup - Cairo leg (floor)
- Bronze: 2024 Asian Championships (all-around)
Eumir Marcial, Boxing (men's 80kg)
Already an Olympic bronze medalist, boxer Marcial is set for another trip to the Summer Games after finishing inside of the top two of the men's 80kg division in the Asian Games.
READ MORE | New weight class, same mindset for Eumir Marcial in second Olympics stint
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2015 SEA Games (welterweight); 2017 SEA Games (middleweight); 2019 SEA Games (middleweight); 2021 SEA Games (middleweight); 2020 Asia and Oceania OQT (middleweight)
- Silver: 2015 Asian Championships (welterweight); 2019 World Championships (middleweight); 2022 Asian Games (light heavyweight)
- Bronze: 2020 Olympics (middleweight); 2018 Asian Games (middleweight); 2021 Asian Championships (middleweight)
Nesthy Petecio, Boxing (women's 57kg)
Olympic silver medalist Petecio punched another ticket to the Summer Games as she qualified through the 1st Olympic boxing qualifiers in Italy. Petecio's tenacity has brought her to a second crack at Olympic glory, and she isn't about to let the gold slip this time around.
READ MORE | Nesthy Petecio out to put on a show in second straight Olympics bid
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2019 World Championships (featherweight); 2019 SEA Games (featherweight); 2023 SEA Games (featherweight)
- Silver: 2020 Olympics (featherweight); 2014 World Championships (featherweight); 2015 Asian Championships (bantamweight); 2011 SEA Games (bantamweight); 2013 SEA Games (featherweight); 2015 SEA Games (featherweight)
- Bronze: 2012 Asian Championships (bantamweight); 2022 Asian Championships (featherweight); 2021 SEA Games (lightweight)
Aira Villegas, Boxing (women's 50 kgs)
Aira Villegas also booked a ticket to the Paris Olympics through the 1st Olympic boxing qualifiers. Villegas isn't only fulfilling her own dream by setting foot at the Paris Olympics as she is also realizing a longtime aspiration of her older brother, Rominick.
READ MORE | Aira Villegas continues bro's dream in Olympics debut
Major achievements:
- Bronze: 2019 SEA Games (bantamweight)
Carlo Paalam, Boxing (men's 57kg)
Silver medalist Carlo Paalam is returning to the Olympics as he qualified through the 2nd Olympic Boxing Qualification. Paalam spent the last three years preparing to earn what he fell short of in Tokyo in 2021: a gold medal.
READ MORE | Battle-ready Carlo Paalam primed to wage war in Paris Olympics
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2022 Asian Championships (bantamweight); 2019 SEA Games (flyweight); 2023 SEA Games (bantamweight)
- Silver: 2020 Olympics (flyweight)
- Bronze: 2018 Asian Games (flyweight)
Hergie Bacyadan, Boxing (women's 75kg)
Hergie Bacyadan is the fifth boxer from the Philippines to qualify for the Summer Games also through the 2nd Olympic Boxing Qualification. Bacyadan also represented the Philippines in international events in vovinam and wushu.
READ MORE | From wushu to vovinam to boxing, Hergie Bacyadan comes full circle in Paris debut
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2023 World Championships (vovinam)
- Silver: 2017 World Championships (wushu); 2017 Sanda World Cup (wushu); 2023 SEA Games (vovinam)
John Ceniza, Weightlifting (men's 61kg)
Weightlifters John Ceniza, Elreen Ando, and Vanessa Sarno qualified through the IWF World Cup in Thailand in April.
The 26-year old Ceniza has been in weightlifting for 13 years already and has been continuously progressing in his career. Ceniza claimed his slot in the men's 61kg event.
READ MORE | John Ceniza continues to rise as he makes Olympic debut
Major achievements:
- Silver: 2019 SEA Games (55kg); 2023 SEA Games (61kg)
- Bronze: 2020 IWF World Cup (61kg)
Elreen Ando, Weightlifting (women's 59kg)
Elreen Ando had a better showing against Hidilyn Diaz in the women's 59kg event, allowing her to grab a ticket to Paris. For someone who learned from, competed in the Olympics with, and surpassed a powerhouse figure in Hidilyn Diaz, Ando sure has a sparkling future ahead of her.
READ MORE | Time is now for weightlifting ace Elreen Ando in return to Olympic stage
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2023 SEA Games (59kg)
- Silver: 2020 Asian Championships (64kg); 2024 Asian Championships (59kg); 2019 SEA Games (64kg); 2021 SEA Games (64kg)
- Bronze: 2022 Asian Games (64kg)
Vanessa Sarno, Weightlifting (women's 71kg)
Vanessa Sarno, on the other hand, had a record in snatch as she qualified for the Summer Games. Twice in the past, the 20-year-old weightlifting prodigy seen as the next Hidilyn Diaz has beaten and surpassed records that she also made after smashing marks in the regional and global levels.
READ MORE | Vanessa Sarno hopes fate smiles upon her in Paris Olympics
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2020 Asian Championships (71kg); 2021 SEA Games (71kg); 2023 SEA Games (71kg)
- Silver: 2023 Asian Championships (71kg)
Sam Catantan, Fencing (women's foil)
Sam Catantan qualified by ruling the women's foil event in the Asia and Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier. Catantan is the first fencing delegate of the Philippines to the Olympics after 32 years
READ MORE | Sam Catantan triumphs over trials to rep Philippine fencing in Olympics
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2021 SEA Games (foil)
- Silver: 2017 SEA Games (foil); 2021 SEA Games (team foil); 2023 SEA Games (foil)
- Bronze: 2019 SEA Games (team foil); 2019 SEA Games (foil)
READ MORE | Sam Catantan triumphs over trials to rep Philippine fencing in Olympics
Joanie Delgaco, Rowing (women's single sculls)
Joanie Delgaco became the first Filipina rower to qualify for any edition of the Olympics as she finished fourth in the 2024 Asia Oceania Qualification Tournament. Delgaco was actually a volleyball player before finding herself in rowing.
READ MORE | Joanie Delgaco shifts from spiking to rowing for her historic Olympic stint
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2019 SEA Games (lightweight double sculls); 2023 Asian Rowing Beach Sprint Championships (double sculls - mixed rowing)
- Silver: 2021 SEA Games (single sculls)
- Bronze: 2021 SEA Games (quadruple sculls); 2021 SEA Games (lightweight quadruple sculls)
Bianca Pagdanganan, Golf
Pagdanganan is back for another stint in the Summer Games after having her first in Tokyo three years ago. She was qualified after making it to the top 60 of the official world golf rankings.
READ MORE | Bianca Pagdanganan heads to Paris Olympics in full swing
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2018 Asian Games (team); 2019 SEA Games (team); 2019 SEA Games (individual)
- Bronze: 2018 Asian Games (individual)
Dottie Ardina, Golf
Ardina, meanwhile, has qualified again for the Summer Games as she also booked a slot in 2016. However, she pulled the plug back then due to Zika virus.
READ MORE | Dottie Ardina, finally, is heading to the Olympics
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2009 SEA Games (team)
Kiyomi Watanabe, Judo (women's 63kg)
Making her second stint as well in the Olympics is Watanabe who booked a slot through continental qualification.
READ MORE | Kiyomi Watanabe heads for another Olympic tour
Major achievements:
- Gold: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 SEA Games
Kayla Sanchez, Swimming (women's 100m freestyle)
Making a splash for the Philippines is Sanchez who previously represented Canada. In the Tokyo Olympics, Sanchez had a silver in 4x100 freestyle and and a bronze in 4x100 medley.
READ MORE | Kayla Sanchez debuts under Philippine colors in second Olympic stint
Major achievements:
- For Canada:
- Gold: 2021 World Championships SC (4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle, 4x50m mixed freestyle)
- Silver: 2020 Olympics (4x100m freestyle); 2018 Commonwealth Games (4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle); 2021 World Championsips SC (4x100m medley); 2022 World Championships LC (4x100m freestyle, 4x100m mixed freestyle)
- Bronze: 2020 Olympics (4x100m freestyle); 2018 Pan Pacific Championships (4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle); 2019 World Championships LC (4x100m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle); 2022 World Championships SC (4x200m freestyle, 4x100m medley)
Jarod Hatch, Swimming (men's 100m butterfly)
SEA Games medalist Hatch will also represent the Philippines in the upcoming Paris Games. Hatch was ready to bid swimming goodbye when he initially called it quits in 2021 following years of competitive action that saw him get exhausted both physically and mentally. However, he decided to come out of his retirement after more than a year and once again represented the Philippines.
Major achievements:
- Silver: 2019 SEA Games (4x100m freestyle relay); 2023 SEA Games (mixed swimming: 4x100m medley relay)
- Bronze: 2023 SEA Games (50m butterfly, 100m butterfly)
READ MORE | Jarod Hatch goes from retirement to representing PHL in Paris Olympics
Many of the Filipino athletes are already in the Paris Olympic village.
Tokyo silver medalists Petecio and Paalam will be the flag bearers in the opening ceremony on July 27 (Philippine time).
READ MORE | Philippines at the 2024 Paris Olympics: Schedule and Results
—JKC, GMA Integrated News