Eight Pinoy athletes depart for training camp ahead of Paris Olympics

PASAY — Eight Olympic-bound athletes departed for the French city of Metz over a month before the summer games in Paris.

The group bound for France Saturday morning included boxers Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Hergie Bacyadan, Aira Villegas; weightlifters Elreen Ando, John Ceniza, Vanessa Sarno; and rower Joanie Delgaco.

PHOTO: Paris Olympics hold torch relay under the sea

The Pinoy athletes will undergo training in a state-of-the-art sports facility located in the same region as the Olympics.

They all agreed the month-long training camp will help boost to their campaign.

“Siyempre magaadjust din kami sa time doon. Sobrang malaking tulong ito most especially makaka-sparring namin yung mga nag qualify na athlete po sa timbang namin. Ingat ingat lang din. Baka magkakuhaan ng style talaga,” Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio said.

(Of course we will adjust to the time there. The training is a big help most especially we will get to spar with fellow athletes who qualified and in our weight class. We have to be careful. They might get our style)

She said the boxing team will train in Metz for 1-2 weeks before heading to Germany.

Olympic returnee Elreen Ando is raring to return to training to improve her game.

Send-off para sa mga atletang Pinoy na sasabak sa Paris Olympics

“Malaking tulong din kasi kailangan namin iadapt yung klima doon. At saka masanay yung katawan natin,” she shared.

(It’s a big help since we need to adapt to the climate there and get our bodies in shape)

The country’s first Filipina Olympic rower Joanie Delgaco believes she is 90% ready for the competition.

“Yung 100% doon po sa training camp na one month. Doon po ako magdadagdag talaga. Doble triple kayod po yung gagawin ko,” Delgaco said.

(I will give 100% in the month-long training camp. I will really add more effort. It will be double, triple the usual effort that I do)

“Marami po kasing nag attempt na babae na mag qualify sa Olympics. Thankful po talaga ako na isa ako sa pinalad. Bihira lang po talaga yung may babae na mag-qualify sa amin,” she added.

(A lot of female rowers have tried to qualify for the Olympics. I’m thankful I was blessed to qualify. It’s rare for females to qualify in our sport)

Weightlifter Vanessa Sarno, 20, is looking forward to her Olympic debut.

"Sa feeling naman po ano po excitement at basta i-enjoy yung game po. Yung mindset ko lang po sa Paris Olympics is ginagawa ko po yung best ko para mag-podium,” she shared.

"May injury po [right now] but nagrerecover,” Sarno admitted.

(I’m feeling the excitement and I’m ready to enjoy the game. My mindset in the Paris Olympics is to do my best so I can get to the podium)

The weightlifters say they will remain in the training facility for their entire one month stay.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino said the morale is high among the departing athletes.

“Palagay ko napakataas yung morale ng mga atleta at mga opisyal. Masaya, excited. Ngayon lang ata magsasama sama na sabay-sabay in one training camp. Kagandahan nito may bonding. The entire Team Philippines magkasama,” he said.

(I believe the morale is high among the athletes and officials. We’re happy, excited. I think it’s the first time the athletes will be coming together in one training camp. What’s good about this is there will be bonding. The entire Team Philippines will be together)

Tolentino emphasized the need for the country’s representatives acclimatize to the local conditions ahead of the competition.

So far, the Philippines has 15 representatives to the Paris Olympics.

POC is hopeful more Pinoy athletes will still qualify in time for the summer games.

The Paris Olympics will open on July 26 and will run until August 11.