Three-time Olympic long jumper Marestella Torres has a piece of advice to the think-tank of the Philippine Sports Institute: Recruit the offspring of national athletes.
Since the PSI, launched two days ago to help the high-level training of national athletes and speed up the discovery of fresh talent from the grassroots, Torres noted that the sons and daughters of tested performers would be easier to turn into solid competitors.
“They have the genes. It’s a given,” said Torres said during the inauguration of the PSI at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
Torres, a four-time SEA Games titlist and 2009 Asian championships gold medalist, said the PSI’s mission to start at the grassroots level is the right way in finding talent that will eventually beef up the national team.
“This is the perfect way because it would strengthen the national training pool,” she said.
Besides, many national athletes have sons or daughters who also chose to become athletes, including those from track and field and boxing.
But not everyone decided to follow the same path, leaving the Philippines with no other choice but to be left with athletes who have been forced to perform beyond their peak years.
Through the years, many sports leaders opted to look beyond local shores in reinforcing their respective training pools in the absence of hopefuls in their ranks.
But Torres has one bit of a concern.
“I just hope that the PSI will continue to exist (even after this administration) because an institute such as this is meant for long-term use and not just a quick fix.”