An OK weekend

Sam Catantan has long contemplated on what lies ahead even before she stepped on the piste in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

So despite her exit from the women’s individual foil tournament inside the magnificent Grand Palais in Paris on Sunday, Catantan has already designed a bigger and demanding plan for her next career move.

“To be there (2028 Los Angeles Olympics), I have to compete in as many international tournaments as I can to gain the necessary points,’’ said Catantan.

The first Filipino woman fencer to represent the country after 32 years upstaged Brazil’s Mariana Pistoia in their opening match, 15-13, to progress to the round of 32 versus four-time Olympian and top-ranked Arianna Errigo of Italy.

Rower Joanie Delgaco, meanwhile, made PH history after entering the quarterfinals of the women’s singles sculls via the backdoor.

By prevailing in the repechage 1, Delgaco is now among the top 24 in the world. She clocked seven minutes and 55 seconds after the 2,000-meter race at National Olympic Nautical Stadium in France, clearly beating four other competitors at the line.

Paris 2024 Olympics – Rowing – Women’s Single Sculls Heats – Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium – Flatwater, Vaires-sur-Marne, France – July 27, 2024. Joanie Delgaco of Philippines in action. REUTERS/Molly Darlington

Vietnamese Pham Thi Hue placed second in 8:00.97 to join Delgaco in the quarters on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. (Manila time).The first Filipino woman in the rowing event of the Games, Delgaco pulled off a wire-to-wire victory in the repechage just 24 hours after a missed opportunity in the heats.Despite Catantan bowing out, it still was a good weekend for the PH campaign in Paris after gymnastics ace Carlos Yulo, who made the finals of his signature events the floor exercise and vault, plus the men’s all-around on Saturday.

Philippines’ Carlos Edriel Yulo competes in the parallel bars event of the artistic gymnastics men’s qualification during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP)

Visibly undersized, Catantan made Errigo work throughout their clash, rising from a four-point deficit twice, before the Italian concluded their faceoff with a pair of quick stabs for a narrow 15-12 win to advance to the table of 16.

Paris 2024 Olympics – Fencing – Women’s Foil Individual Table of 32 – Grand Palais, Paris, France – July 28, 2024. Arianna Errigo of Italy in action against Samantha Kyle Catantan of Philippines. REUTERS/Albert Gea

Rigorous route

Regardless of the outcome, lunging her sword on the grandest stage in sports is certainly an accomplishment for Catantan, who had to go through the rigorous Olympic Qualification Tournament (OQT) for Asia.

“I would rather make it (to Los Angeles) by compiling ranking points than go through the same process again,’’ said Catantan.The 22-year-old from Frisco in Quezon City and 2021 Southeast Asian Games (SEA) gold medalist hardly had the luxury of playing in various tournaments where points are earned prior to the OQT.

It didn’t help that she suffered a devastating ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury during last year’s Cambodia SEA Games in the semifinals, forcing Catantan to settle for a silver medal.That left knee buckled in her meeting against Pistoia with the Brazilian ahead, 7-4, during the final 24 seconds of the first round.But Catantan didn’t lose hope and fought point for point before gaining control with a stretch lunge for a 14-13 lead before ending Pistoia’s bid with another prolific thrust.

Catantan felt another sharp sting on the same knee with 20 seconds remaining in the second round of the Errigo match.

Out for nearly 10 months, Catantan missed most of the tournaments that offer Olympic qualification points that saw her ranking plummet badly. The top-ranked fencer from each continent automatically clinched an Olympic berth.

“That’s the path I would love to take going to Los Angeles,’’ said Catantan. INQ