Team Philippines Shines at Rainy 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony

The spirit of the Filipino athletes shone through despite the rain at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. In a historic first, the parade of nations took place on boats sailing down the River Seine. The Philippine delegation, comprised of 22 athletes and sports officials, shared a boat with Poland and Puerto Rico as they waved to cheering crowds lining the riverbanks.

Olympic silver medalists and boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam proudly carried the Philippine flag at the head of the delegation. Petecio won silver in the women’s featherweight division at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, while Paalam clinched silver in the men’s flyweight event.

Their presence leading the team highlights the Philippines’ strength in boxing and the high hopes pinned on the boxing contingent to deliver medals in Paris.

The Philippine delegation was the 148th to be introduced, at around 3:29 am on Saturday, July 27 Manila time. Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and other officials cheered them on from a special section on the riverbank, patiently waiting through the night as the delegations were introduced in French alphabetical order.

Only the delegations of Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics, and the next two Olympic hosts – the United States in 2028 and Australia in 2032 – along with the current host France, entered out of alphabetical order. They were the last to sail in, after the Philippines and the other nations had already passed by.

22 Filipino Athletes Across 8 Sports

The Philippines is fielding a lean but high-quality team of 22 athletes across 8 different sports. While the opening ceremony delegation was just 10 athletes and 5 officials, the full Team Philippines contingent is as follows:

Athletics (Track & Field)

• EJ Obiena (Pole Vault)
• John Cabang Tolentino (110m Hurdles)
• Lauren Hoffman (400m Hurdles)

Gymnastics

• Carlos Yulo
• Aleah Finnegan
• Levi Ruivivar
• Emma Malabuyo

Boxing

• Eumir Marcial (Men’s Middleweight)
• Nesthy Petecio (Women’s Featherweight)
• Aira Villegas (Women’s Flyweight)
• Carlo Paalam (Men’s Flyweight)
• Hergie Bacyadan (Women’s Featherweight)

Rowing

• Joanie Delgaco

Swimming

• Jasmine Alkhaldi
• Luke Gebbie
• Miranda Renner
• Xiandi Chua

Taekwondo

• Kurt Barbosa
• Pauline Lopez

Shooting

• Jayson Valdez
• Marcelo Gutierrez

Weightlifting

• Vanessa Sarno
• Elreen Ando

This is the Philippines’ largest ever contingent for the Olympics, surpassing the previous record of 20 athletes at the Tokyo 2020 Games. It reflects the country’s growing stature in international sports.

High Hopes for Gymnastics, Boxing, Pole Vault

Expectations are especially high for the gymnastics team led by Carlos Yulo, a two-time world champion in the floor exercise and vault events. Yulo is joined by rising star Aleah Finnegan who qualified via her all-around performance at the 2023 World Championships, as well as Levi Ruivivar and Emma Malabuyo who earned their spots through strong showings in World Cup events.

The boxing team is also a source of great pride, with a mix of Olympic veterans like Marcial, Petecio and Paalam, along with young talents Villegas and Bacyadan who qualified via the Olympic boxing qualifiers. The Philippines has won 5 of its 14 total Olympic medals in boxing and is traditionally an Olympic powerhouse in the sport.

In athletics, EJ Obiena leads the charge as the world #2 in pole vault. He was the first Filipino to qualify for Paris when he cleared 5.82 meters at a Diamond League meet, well above the Olympic standard. Hurdlers John Cabang Tolentino and Lauren Hoffman, both national record holders, will also aim to make a splash on the Olympic stage.

100 Years of Filipino Olympic History

2024 is a milestone year as it marks the 100th anniversary of the Philippines’ first Olympic participation. In 1924, sprinter David Nepomuceno was the country’s lone representative at the Paris Games. He competed in the 100m and 200m dash events.

Since then, the Philippines has been represented at every edition of the Summer Olympics. The country won its first medals – bronze in swimming and boxing – at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. It took until 1964 in Tokyo for the Philippines to win its first silver medal, courtesy of boxer Anthony Villanueva.

The Philippines finally struck Olympic gold in 2021 when weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz triumphed in the women’s 55kg category in Tokyo, ending the country’s long wait for the top of the podium. Diaz is sitting out the Paris Olympics to focus on her family, but she has inspired a new generation of Filipino athletes.

Over the past century, the Philippines has steadily grown its Olympic medal haul to 1 gold, 5 silver, and 8 bronze across boxing, swimming, weightlifting, and track & field. The 4 medals won in Tokyo in 2021 – 1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze – was the country’s best ever Olympic performance.

Marching Towards Olympic Glory

As the Philippine delegation marched along the River Seine, waving to the crowds in the Parisian drizzle, there was a palpable sense of excitement and determination. The athletes know they carry the hopes of 110 million Filipinos on their shoulders.

The Philippines is still in search of its first Olympic gold medals in gymnastics, boxing, and pole vault – three of its strongest events in Paris. EJ Obiena, Carlos Yulo, Nesthy Petecio and the rest of the team are all laser-focused on achieving that breakthrough.

Even those not favored for gold are eager to prove they belong among the world’s best. Swimmers like Luke Gebbie and Jasmine Alkhaldi have an opportunity to set new national records. Young boxers Villegas and Bacyadan can gain invaluable experience for future Olympic cycles.

Whatever the final medal tally, these 22 athletes have already done their country proud by qualifying for the pinnacle of sports competition. The Paris Olympics will be a showcase of Filipino athletic excellence, grit, and fighting spirit.

When the Olympic cauldron is lit and the Games officially begin, the Philippines will be ready to make history. With a delegation 100 years in the making, the stage is set for the country’s finest athletes to march towards Olympic glory. The next chapter of Philippine Olympic history is waiting to be written.