By REY C. LACHICA
PARIS – The ending was not picture-perfect but nothing can dim the luster of the gold medal won by gymnast Carlos Yulo and the bronze medals produced by boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas.
And that has made the country’s performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics the best ever since taking part in the grandest show on earth exactly 100 years ago – coincidentally in this lovely French capital.
There were distractions and controversies heading to the end of the 17-day battle for supreme athleticism but that can’t overshadow the heroics of the three medalists and 19 other Filipinos who fought ferociously to the very end despite great odds.
The country bagged only four medals in 329 events of 32 sports calendared for this year’s edition, but those were enough to surpass the 1-gold, 2-silver and 1-bronze medals won by the country in the Covid-delayed 2021 Tokyo Games.
Overall, Team Philippines finished tied for 37th with Hong Kong held in this city for the third time, but emerged as the best performer among Southeast Asian nations, edging Indonesia which collected 2 golds and a bronze, and Thailand with 1 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals.
For Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, the country’s successful campaign here is a tough act to follow.
“That’s why work for Los Angeles in 2028 starts now,” said Tolentino “The template applied in gymnastics and boxing has been tested and proven again in Paris,” said Tolentino.
The formula is to have a squad of coaches, strength and conditioning experts, physiotherapists, nutritionists, among others.
“The POC will be encouraging national sports associations to apply a similar template,” added Tolentino.
Like Tolentino, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Dicky Bachmann was also over the moon that Yulo’s golden double happened under his watch.
He vowed to keep a close eye – even nose – on national sports associations who have the promise to make an impact in the international arena like the Olympics.
“The PSC will always be for the athletes. We will provide them everything they want under our mandate in their desire to become champions in their respective disciplines,” said Bachmann, who left for Manila on Sunday to help prepare what could be a grand heroes’ welcome for the country’s athletes.
And Yulo? He was simply awesome.
Among Southeast Asian athletes, it was Yulo who shone the brightest in the City of Light by winning two golds.
For two magical nights starting on Aug. 3, Yulo had the entire nation, and perhaps the world, under his spell with performances beyond imagination.
His first gold medal came in the floor exercise – an event that led him to become one of global icons after winning it in the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.
In that event, Yulo, only 24, performed without hesitation unlike in his first finals event – in the all-around.
The result was eye-popping, getting a score of 15.000 – thanks to his powerful routines, 2.5 twist to front double pike and front double full to double front, triple twist side pass, front layout to full front 2.5 twist.
Even those inside the massive Bercy Arena let out a long and wild applause after he ended his performance with a 3.5 twist.
He was equally masterful – like a Zen – in the vault finals, coming first with a Dragulescu jump before capping his show with a Kasamatsu double twist for his second gold.
That ushered in to his immortalization as the greatest Filipino Olympian as he etched his name in the golden scroll of champions in the company of weightlifting’s superwoman Hidilyn Diaz.
It was Diaz who ended the country’s long and agonizing wait for a gold medal when she produced one stunning lift in the 54 kg class in the Tokyo Games.
There was, however, a small blot in Yulo’s rare double-gold feat – his much-talk rift with mother. But it was not worth talking about.
Petecio fell short in her bid to improve on her silver medal performance in the Tokyo Games when she fell to a young and cocky Julia Szeremeta of Poland.
Still, she was proud of her performance, same thing for Villegas who vowed to come back strong in the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
There were near-misses and heartaches, too.
World No. 2 pole vaulter EJ Obiena missed the bronze by a heartbeat, losing it to Greek Emmaouil Karalis by a jump while golfer Bianca Pagdanganan narrowly missed forging a playoff for the bronze by one stroke.
Still, the beautiful Pagdanganan was happy and satisfied despite finishing in joint fourth.
“It just means a lot, I am able to represent the Philippines on such a big stage, competing with the best players in the world and I don’t know how else to put it,” said Pagdanganan.“I really wanted it, I want our names up there, I want them to know the we’re great athletes.”
Pagdanganan is convinced Filipinos can also excel not only in golf, but also in other disciplines.
Ardina matched Pagdanganan 68 to end up tied for 13th, also a respectable finish.
Tokyo Games silver medalist Carlo Paalam also ended up heartbroken after a controversial defeat in boxing’s quarterfinals while weightlifters Vanessa Sarno and John Febuar Ceniza failed to finish in their respective events despite their lofty brankings.
Ceniza, ranked No. 5 in the world, competed with an injured shoulder, while the fourth-ranked Sarno blamed the “toxic invironment” for her outright disqualification.
The late arrival of her personal coach caused her mental anguish and spelled doom to her forgettable in her first Olympic stint.
There was a ray of hope for bower Hergie Bacyadan and rower Joanie Delgaco.
After a disappointing early exit, experts believe that boxer Eumir Marcial needs to focus on one thing alone – return to amateur full time or concentrate on being a pro fighter.
