Fencer Sam Catantan is latest Pinoy athlete to earn Olympics berth | ABS-CBN
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Fencer Sam Catantan is latest Pinoy athlete to earn Olympics berth
Fencer Sam Catantan is latest Pinoy athlete to earn Olympics berth
Camille B. Naredo,
ABS-CBN News
Published Apr 27, 2024 10:49 PM PHT
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Updated Apr 28, 2024 12:22 AM PHT
Filipino fencing athlete Samantha Catantan practices for the Southeast Asian Games with the Philippine Fencing Team at the Philippine Sports Institute at the Ultra in Pasig City on November 12, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File
Filipino fencing athlete Samantha Catantan practices for the Southeast Asian Games with the Philippine Fencing Team at the Philippine Sports Institute at the Ultra in Pasig City on November 12, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File(2nd UPDATE) Filipina fencer Sam Catantan is headed to the Paris Olympics after emerging triumphant in the women's foil event of the Asia Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifiers 2024 in Dubai on Saturday.
(2nd UPDATE) Filipina fencer Sam Catantan is headed to the Paris Olympics after emerging triumphant in the women's foil event of the Asia Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifiers 2024 in Dubai on Saturday.
Catantan defeated Kazakhstan’s Sofiya Aktayeva in a dramatic final match that saw the Filipina overcome a late deficit and a medical break to treat a knee injury.
Catantan defeated Kazakhstan’s Sofiya Aktayeva in a dramatic final match that saw the Filipina overcome a late deficit and a medical break to treat a knee injury.
Tied at 13-all, Catantan took an injury timeout and was visibly limping when she returned to action. Aktayeva forced a final deadlock at 14, before Catantan seized the last point.
Tied at 13-all, Catantan took an injury timeout and was visibly limping when she returned to action. Aktayeva forced a final deadlock at 14, before Catantan seized the last point.
The Filipina fencer was still limping even as she celebrated her victory with her coaches.
The Filipina fencer was still limping even as she celebrated her victory with her coaches.
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Catantan is the first Filipino fencer to qualify for the Summer Games in 32 years. Walter Torres competed in men's foil in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
Catantan is the first Filipino fencer to qualify for the Summer Games in 32 years. Walter Torres competed in men's foil in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.
Catantan is the 12th member of the Philippine team to the Paris Olympics, joining star pole vaulter EJ Obiena; boxers Eumir Marcial, Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio; gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, and Levi Ruivivar; rower Joanie Delgaco; and weightlifters John Ceniza, Elreen Ando, and Vanessa Sarno.
Catantan is the 12th member of the Philippine team to the Paris Olympics, joining star pole vaulter EJ Obiena; boxers Eumir Marcial, Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio; gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, and Levi Ruivivar; rower Joanie Delgaco; and weightlifters John Ceniza, Elreen Ando, and Vanessa Sarno.
"Sobrang proud po ako kay Sam," the fencer's mother, Aileen Catantan, said in a message to ABS-CBN News. "Nagbunga din lahat po ng hirap na pinagdaanan niya mula ng bata siya."
"Sobrang proud po ako kay Sam," the fencer's mother, Aileen Catantan, said in a message to ABS-CBN News. "Nagbunga din lahat po ng hirap na pinagdaanan niya mula ng bata siya."
"Maraming hirap ang pinagdaanan niya bago marating lahat ng ito," she added. "Salamat sa mga taong nagdasal at sumuporta kay Sam, sa buong fencing community, at sa lahat ng coaches."
"Maraming hirap ang pinagdaanan niya bago marating lahat ng ito," she added. "Salamat sa mga taong nagdasal at sumuporta kay Sam, sa buong fencing community, at sa lahat ng coaches."
It has been a long road back to full fitness for Catantan, who suffered a knee injury in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia that forced her to settle for a silver medal in women's foil after winning a breakthrough gold in Vietnam in 2022.
It has been a long road back to full fitness for Catantan, who suffered a knee injury in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia that forced her to settle for a silver medal in women's foil after winning a breakthrough gold in Vietnam in 2022.
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She told ABS-CBN News in a recent interview that she only started fencing again in February after getting cleared following her ACL injury. A star at Penn State, Catantan advanced to the 2024 US NCAA Fencing Championship and finished 10th out of the best 24 fencers in the United States.
She told ABS-CBN News in a recent interview that she only started fencing again in February after getting cleared following her ACL injury. A star at Penn State, Catantan advanced to the 2024 US NCAA Fencing Championship and finished 10th out of the best 24 fencers in the United States.
In the zonal qualifiers, Catantan overwhelmed Israa Al Siyabi of Oman, 15-4, in the quarterfinals before pulling off a 15-3 upset of South Korea's Hong Sena in the semis.
In the zonal qualifiers, Catantan overwhelmed Israa Al Siyabi of Oman, 15-4, in the quarterfinals before pulling off a 15-3 upset of South Korea's Hong Sena in the semis.
She then completed a comeback against Aktayeva after having lost to the Kazakh fencer in pool play.
She then completed a comeback against Aktayeva after having lost to the Kazakh fencer in pool play.
Aside from Catantan, also competing in the zonal qualifiers are: Noelito Jose Jr. (Men's Epee), Hanniel Abella (Women's Epee), and Nathaniel Perez (Men's Foil).
Aside from Catantan, also competing in the zonal qualifiers are: Noelito Jose Jr. (Men's Epee), Hanniel Abella (Women's Epee), and Nathaniel Perez (Men's Foil).
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