ITALY – Filipino fencer Samantha Kyle Catantan is hoping her three-week training in Italy under Italian coach Matteo Zennaro would pay off with only 17 days left before the much-awaited Paris Olympics Games.
She arrived in Venice on June 13 and has been sparring with some members of the Italy national team.
Catantan and Zennaro, also her mentor in Pennsylvania State University in the United States, will leave on Saturday to join the entire Team Philippines in a training camp in Metz, France.
“Ngayon po kasi na malapit na ang Olympics, hindi na po masyadong hardcore training when it comes to strength and conditioning, kasi napaghirapan na 'yun it’s no longer hardcore training when it comes to strength and conditioning, because we worked hard for it already) all the way to get here,” she said in an interview on Tuesday.
“For now, physical training is secondary. We train more on technical and skills na pwede po namin mabaon sa (that we can use in the) upcoming Olympics,” she added.
Catantan made history as the first Filipino fencer to qualify for the Olympic Games in 32 years after winning the women's individual foil event at the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates last April 27.
The 22-year-old gold medalist in the 2021 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam is also the first full-blooded female fencer from the Philippines to make the Olympics.
Walter Torres, the last Filipino fencer in the Olympics, competed in 1992 Barcelona. He is now one of the commissioners of the Philippine Sports Commission.
In Paris, Catantan will be up against the world’s top 34 fencers, including former teammate and world No. 27 Maxine Esteban who will now represent Ivory Coast.
“As of now, hindi namin iniisip kung sino makakatapat namin. Basta focus kami ngayon training po and sa mga skills na pwede pa pong maimprove (As of now, I’m not thinking about my opponents. We just focus on training and skills that can be improved) before the upcoming Paris Olympics,” the world No. 266 said.
ACL injury healed
While her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury has healed, Catantan will still be wearing a brace during the Olympics "kaya hindi pa rin the same 'yun movements (that’s why my movements are still not the same),” she said.
Catantan sustained the injury during her semifinal match in the women’s foil event against Singapore’s Kemei Cheung in the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games.
She defeated Cheung, 15-6, but decided to withdraw from the final match against another Singaporean player, Maxine Jie Wong, and settled for a silver medal.
“As of now, we’re trying to get back po mental aspect, 'yun nga po sa resulta ng injury. Hindi po the same 'yun confidence ko gumalaw (that’s the result of the injury. My confidence in my movements is not the same) without any brace,” Catantan said.
“Since naka-brace po ako ever since I started playing with the injury, maglalaro po ko (Since I’m wearing brace ever since I started playing with an injuiry, I will play) with the brace in the upcoming Olympics,” she added.
Catantan suited up for the University of the East high school team and led the Junior Warriors to a ninth straight title in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines in her final year in 2020.
She was Most Valuable Player in all her five years with UE.
She went on to secure a full scholarship with Penn State and competed in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1.
In a social media post, she said being a member of the national team taught her the values of hard work and dedication.
“Prioritizing both fencing and my academics, I would like to take this opportunity to further excel in both fields through the guidance of Penn State. This will allow me to improve my skills as a fencer by playing with and against the world's best fencers and at the same time, learn through a competitive educational environment,” she said.
She asked Filipinos to pray for the entire Philippine team that will compete in the Paris from July 26 to Aug. 11.
“Sana patuloy nyo po kaming suportahan at ipagdasal na magkaroon po kami ng magandang performance and at the same time, wala po sanang ma-injure and of course, makapagbigay ng karangalan sa bansa (I hope you will continue to support us and pray for us to have a good performance and at the same time, no one would be injured, and of course to bring honor to the country),” she said.
Thevother Paris Olympans are Ernest John Obiena, Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang (athletics); Carlos Yulo, Emma Malabuyo, Aleah Finnegan and Levi Ruivivar (gymnastics); boxing's Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Peticio, Carlo Paalam, Hergie Bacyadan and Aira Villegas ; John Ceniza, Vanessa Sarno and Elreen Ando (weightlifting); Joanie Delgaco (rowing); golf's Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina; Kayla Sanchez and Jarod Hatch (swimming); and Kiyomi Watanabe (judo).
The Philippines had its best performance in 2020 Tokyo (held 2021 due to the pandemic) with four medals -- the first ever gold by weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and boxing's two silvers courtesy of Petecio and Paalam, and bronze by Marcial.
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