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Carlo Paalam

Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 960px;"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172184407731220240620-psc-paris-olympics-send-off-JC-10.jpg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Boxer Carlo Paalam during the Allianz PNB Life and Philippine Sports Commission send off for the 2024 Paris Olympics at Makati Diamond Residences on June 20, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align: left;">Boxer Carlo Paalam during the Allianz PNB Life and Philippine Sports Commission send off for the 2024 Paris Olympics at Makati Diamond Residences on June 20, 2024. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – Carlo Paalam is many things — a boxer, a former garbage scavenger, a dutiful son, a Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, a silver medalist in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a hard worker, and finally, a Paris Olympian.</p><p>Paalam's road to success wasn't exactly easy — at the young age of nine years old, he became a scavenger in a local landfill to help his family back in Cagayan de Oro.</p><p>He joined boxing matches at a local tourney named "Boxing at the Park" to earn a living.</p><p>From there, Paalam got scouted and eventually taken into a boxing program that would change his life permanently.</p><p>Paalam later on joined the Philippine national team in 2013 and nabbed bronze medals in the AIBA Youth Asian and World Championships in 2016, and bronze at the Asian Games in 2018.</p><p>The famed boxer also snatched a gold medal in the Philippine-hosted 2019 Southeast Asian Games.</p><p>And his Olympic debut came — a chance for fame and boxing glory.</p><p>Paalam cruised to the finals after outboxing reigning Olympic champion Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals and routing hometown bet Tanaka Ryomei in the semis of the Tokyo Games.</p><p>However, he eventually lost to Great Britain's Galal Yafai via split decision in the final round, 4-1, bidding farewell to that elusive gold medal.</p><p>The former SEA Games gold medalist, who also got knocked down in that match, said he learned a lot from his first Olympic stint.</p><p>"Salamat po na naka-experience ako na na-knockdown ako," he said at the time.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/08/08/21/plenty-of-lessons-for-carlo-paalam-after-1st-olympics"><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES: Plenty of lessons for Carlo Paalam after first Olympic stint</strong></a></div><p>"Malaking bagay po na matuto ako at ma-experience ko 'yun bilang boxer," he added. "Never [pa] ako na-knockdown sa buong pag-boxing ko po."</p><p>"'Yun ang first po, pero salamat din po. Dito niya pina-experience sa akin sa Olympics. Malaking bagay po, at matututo po ako," said Paalam.</p><p>Paalam said then that his Tokyo stint would serve as a springboard as he went for a reset en route to the Paris Games years later.</p><p>"I-improve ko pa po 'yung kulang ko po. 'Yung tiwala sa sarili at [tumaas] po ang kumpyansa ko dahil sa experience dito po," he said. "Malaking bagay po, kasi na-experience ko kung ano ang Olympics."</p><p>In his attempt for a Paris berth, he experienced another obstacle — a shoulder injury — which prompted the Pinoy boxer to withdraw from the World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/1/paalam-earns-return-trip-to-olympics-2221"><strong>READ: Boxing: Paalam earns return trip to Olympics</strong></a></div><p>The 26-year-old boxer may have taken the long road, but bidding goodbye to that Paris slot was not an option.</p><p>The Filipino pride defeated Indian pugilist Sachin Siwach via unanimous decision in the men's 57kg of the 2nd Olympic Boxing Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, to earn a return trip to the Olympics.</p><p>"Sobrang hirap 'yung pinagdaanan namin pag-start kasi sa akin talaga 'yung may injury po ako. Kasi na-discourage din po ako, kasi kung paano ko iha-handle 'yung during po kasi masakit na talaga kasi malapit lang 'yung injury ko sa Italy, kadikit lang 'yung month po na maglalaro ako sa Bangkok," Paalam shared.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/20/pinoy-athletes-heading-to-paris-games-get-fitting-send-off-2104"><strong>READ: Pinoy athletes heading to Paris Games get fitting send-off</strong></a></div><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/3/carlo-paalam-hergie-bacyadan-back-in-ph-after-qualifying-for-olympics-2329"><strong>READ: Carlo Paalam, Hergie Bacyadan back in PH after qualifying for Olympics</strong></a></div><p>Paalam said that he improved his mental toughness as he battled in the Thai bout.</p><p>"So pinag-isipan ko pano i-handle talaga, mindset tsaka 'yung mental ko talaga inalagaan ko para paano i-handle ko talaga sa paglaban na wala akong iniisip."</p><p>Now in his second Olympics, Paalam is determined to overcome his previous silver finish while acknowledging the challenges the Filipino Olympians will be facing.</p><p>"Para sa akin, 'yung Olympics ngayon, sobrang bigat talaga kasi lahat ng kalaban namin, preparado," Paalam said in a send-off ceremony. "Lalo na rin kami. So [para] sa akin, gagawin ko 'yung best namin<span id="isPasted" style="line-height:107%;">—</span>na kaya namin talunin sila sa talino saka sa puso."</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/17/petecio-paalam-named-ph-flag-bearers-for-paris-games-1345"><strong>READ: Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam named PH flag-bearers for Paris Games</strong></a></div><p>Paalam was also chosen as a flag bearer for the Philippines in the opening ceremony <span id="isPasted" style="line-height:107%;">—</span> to which he expressed happiness upon knowing the development.</p><p>"Sobrang saya po kasi 'di lang apelyido 'yung dala namin. Buong Pilipinas 'yung dala namin."</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b0sU00I91vo??si=Ja9z6_HYlQxBfMeF&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br></div>

<p>Carlo Paalam is many things — a boxer, a former garbage scavenger, a dutiful son, a Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, a silver medalist in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a hard worker, and finally, a Paris Olympian.</p>

Carlo Paalam is many things — a boxer, a former garbage scavenger, a dutiful son, a Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, a silver medalist in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, a hard worker, and finally, a Paris Olympian.

Paris 2024: Carlo Paalam eyes better finish than silver in Olympics

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Paris 2024: Carlo Paalam eyes better finish than silver in Olympics

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 25, 2024 08:30 PM PHT

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