BY NICK GIONGCO
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Ariana Dormitorio, the undisputed queen of Philippine mountain bike racing, is not giving up on her Olympic dreams.
Philcycling vice-president and MTB chief Oscar ‘Boying’ Rodriguez said Dormitorio was all pumped up to build up needed points for qualification to Tokyo when the roof caved in several months ago.
“If not for the COVID-19 pandemic, she would have taken part in a lot of tournaments (overseas),” said Rodriguez, who remains upbeat that the country’s best bet in the event has a chance of making it via the backdoor.
The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) will be holding one final run in a soon-to-be-announced European site for those aspiring to make the Olympic grade in 2021 and Philcycling is solidly behind Dormitorio’s quest.
“Before she competes there, we will bring her to Japan to toughen up,” said Rodriguez, adding that Dormitorio had a blast when she competed during a test event in Tokyo last year.
When the world plunged into a lockdown, the 23-year-old Dormitorio was ranked fourth in Asia behind Japan, China and Iran, all well within the safe zone for Olympic qualification.
While Philippine sports was on the ice, Philcycling and Dormitorio are not actually taking it nice and easy.
“She is working out to keep in shape and be ready just in case,” said Rodriguez, stressing that the 5-1 Dormitorio, who resides in Fairview, Quezon City, knows the value of being on training mode all the time.
If Dormitorio qualifies, the pint-sized pedalist becomes the first Filipino female rider to qualify for the Olympic Games.
“All is not lost for her,” said Philcycling chief Bambol Tolentino, who is also rallying behind the bid of Fil-Am BMX daredevil Daniel Caluag.
Rodriguez is on the same page with Tolentino, also the Philippine Olympic Committee president.
“Caluag also has a chance of getting an Olympic slot,” he said.
Caluag, the lone gold medalist for the Philippines in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, has likewise vowed to raise the bar and make it to his second Olympics after his 2012 London stint.
Only four Filipinos have so far qualified for Tokyo: boxers Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno, gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
