2024 Paris Olympics: Meet Team Philippines

Here are the 22 Filipino athletes vying to make history in the 2024 Paris Olympics

MANILA, Philippines – After the Philippines’ historic four-medal romp in the Tokyo Games, 22 Filipino athletes look to match, or even surpass, the country’s record run in the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Weightlifting superstar Hidilyn Diaz, who captured the country’s breakthrough Olympic gold, won’t be back, but boxing medalists Nesthy Petecio (silver), Carlo Paalam (silver), and Eumir Marcial (bronze) return to spearhead the Philippines’ campaign, as EJ Obiena (athletics) and Carlos Yulo (gymnastics) also stand as medal contenders.

Here’s the elite roster vying for more glory on the world’s biggest sporting stage: 

ATHLETICS

EJ Obiena (men’s pole vault)

• Golden boy: Who stands in the way of an EJ Obiena pole vault Olympic gold?
• Obiena still optimistic of Olympic medal quest despite ‘physical problems’
• EJ Obiena sees ‘very powerful meaning’ in pole vault success

Lauren Hoffman (women’s 400m hurdles)

• Why Fil-Am hurdler Lauren Hoffman made the big Philippine leap 
• Lauren Hoffman, John Tolentino hurdle way to Paris Olympics
• Olympic hopefuls Hoffman, Tolentino break national records

John Cabang Tolentino (men’s 110m hurdles)

• Lauren Hoffman, John Tolentino hurdle way to Paris Olympics
• Olympic hopefuls Hoffman, Tolentino break national records

BOXING

Nesthy Petecio (women’s 57kg)

• Elusive Olympic gold serves as ‘North Star’ for PH boxers in Paris journey
• Petecio, Paalam to serve as Philippines’ flag bearers in Paris Olympics
• Bound for Paris: Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas punch Olympic tickets

Carlo Paalam (men’s 57kg )

• Elusive Olympic gold serves as ‘North Star’ for PH boxers in Paris journey
• Petecio, Paalam to serve as Philippines’ flag bearers in Paris Olympics
• Carlo Paalam books return trip to Olympics as PH boxing cast grows

Eumir Marcial (men’s 80kg)

• Elusive Olympic gold serves as ‘North Star’ for PH boxers in Paris journey
• Medal contenders Eumir Marcial, Carlos Yulo ready for tougher Olympic run
• Doubts of Olympic return crushed as Eumir Marcial KOs way to Paris Games

Hergie Bacyadan (women’s 75kg)

• Elusive Olympic gold serves as ‘North Star’ for PH boxers in Paris journey
• Masterful Hergie Bacyadan batters foe to punch Olympic ticket

Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg)

• Elusive Olympic gold serves as ‘North Star’ for PH boxers in Paris journey
• Bound for Paris: Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas punch Olympic tickets

GYMNASTICS

Carlos Yulo (men’s artistic gymnastics)

• With tons of lessons learned, Carlos Yulo goes for glory in Olympic return
• Above all else, Carlos Yulo chooses ‘peace of mind’
• Carlos Yulo earns Olympic berth in world championships

Aleah Finnegan (women’s artistic gymnastics)

• Setting the bar: Fil-Am Olympians fuel Philippine gymnastics rise
• ‘Dream come true’: PH gymnast Aleah Finnegan books Paris Olympics ticket
• Olympic-bound gymnast Aleah Finnegan grateful she took plunge to represent PH

Emma Malabuyo (women’s artistic gymnastics)

• Setting the bar: Fil-Am Olympians fuel Philippine gymnastics rise
• Emma Malabuyo earns Olympic berth with all-around bronze in Asian championship
• Malabuyo ends memorable Asian tiff with floor exercise gold

Levi Jung-Ruivivar (women’s artistic gymnastics)

• Setting the bar: Fil-Am Olympians fuel Philippine gymnastics rise
• Defying the odds: Jung-Ruivivar earns Olympic berth after uneven bars silver in Doha World Cup
• Ruivivar bags uneven bars bronze in Asian championships

WEIGHTLIFTING

Elreen Ando (women’s 59kg)

• Lifting the torch: Olympic weightlifters out to make own names as Hidilyn Diaz steps aside
• Elreen surpasses Hidilyn: Ando books Paris berth as Diaz falls short of 5th Olympic stint

John Ceniza (men’s 61kg)

• Lifting the torch: Olympic weightlifters out to make own names as Hidilyn Diaz steps aside
• Weightlifter John Ceniza books Paris Olympics ticket

Vanessa Sarno (women’s 71kg)

• Lifting the torch: Olympic weightlifters out to make own names as Hidilyn Diaz steps aside
• Dream fulfilled: Rising star Vanessa Sarno earns Olympic weightlifting berth

GOLF

Bianca Pagdanganan (women’s individual stroke play)

• Golfers Bianca Pagdanganan, Dottie Ardina clinch Paris Olympic berths
• Filipina golfer Bianca Pagdanganan makes huge jump in world rankings

Dottie Ardina (women’s individual stroke play)

• Golfers Bianca Pagdanganan, Dottie Ardina clinch Paris Olympic berths

SWIMMING

Kayla Sanchez (women’s 100m freestyle)

• Swimmer Kayla Sanchez out to honor roots in Olympic stint for Philippines
• Swimmers Kayla Sanchez, Jarod Hatch set to make Olympic splash through universality
• Olympic silver medalist Kayla Sanchez comes home; World Aquatics approves transfer

Jarod Hatch (men’s 100m butterfly)

• Swimmers Kayla Sanchez, Jarod Hatch set to make Olympic splash through universality

ROWING

Joanie Delgaco (women’s single sculls)

• Palaro to Paris: Joanie Delgaco aces volleyball to rowing jump
• History for PH rowing as Joanie Delgaco qualifies for Paris Olympics

FENCING

Samantha Catantan (women’s foil)

• Fearless fencer: Samantha Catantan overcomes injury to earn Paris Olympics berth
• Catantan says no control over possible clash with Esteban in Paris Olympics

JUDO

Kiyomi Watanabe (women’s -63kg)

• PH judoka Kiyomi Watanabe earns return trip to Olympics

– Rappler.com

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