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Athletes from Philippines', Poland's and Puerto Rico's delegation sail in a boat along the river Seine near the Pont Royal during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. Sebastien Bozon, AFP

Athletes from Philippines', Poland's and Puerto Rico's delegation sail in a boat along the river Seine near the Pont Royal during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP)

Article (news)

Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Camille Naredo

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/1722023334842AFP__20240726__366432T__v1__Preview__OlyParis2024Opening.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Paris 2024 Olympic Games"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Athletes from Philippines&#x27;, Poland&#x27;s and Puerto Rico&#x27;s delegation sail in a boat along the river Seine near the Pont Royal during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris on July 26, 2024. <em>Sebastien Bozon, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>Filipino athletes set a new standard in 2021 in Tokyo, when they brought home four medals from the pandemic-delayed Summer Olympics -- including the country&#x27;s first ever gold.</p><p>Three years later, in Paris, they seek to set a new bar.</p><p>Hopes are high for Team Philippines in Paris but expectations are even higher, with no less than Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham &quot;Bambol&quot; Tolentino declaring that they can surpass the Tokyo medal haul.</p><p>&quot;Definitely, we will surpass the Tokyo record. Bahala na kayo kung one gold, two golds, three golds, basta ma su-surpass natin,&quot; Tolentino said earlier this month, before he returned to Paris to oversee the national team&#x27;s campaign.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/7/16/bambol-tolentino-confident-ph-will-surpass-tokyo-medal-count-in-2024-paris-games-1649">READ: Bambol Tolentino confident PH will surpass Tokyo medal count in 2024 Paris Games</a></div><p>In Tokyo, Hidilyn Diaz delivered the historic gold when she ruled the women&#x27;s 55kg category in weightlifting. She shockingly failed to qualify for the Paris Games, with Elreen Ando instead making it as the highest-ranked Filipino lifter in their new weight division.</p><p>But even without Diaz, three of the country&#x27;s other medalists in Tokyo have made it -- all determined to improve upon their achievements in 2021. Boxers Eumir Marcial (bronze in Tokyo), Nesthy Petecio (silver in Tokyo) and Carlo Paalam (silver in Tokyo) are back for another go, all eyeing the gold that has eluded Filipino pugilists since the country began competing in the Summer Games a century ago.</p><p>Also carrying the country&#x27;s medal hopes are gymnasts Carlos Edriel Yulo and pole vaulter EJ Obiena -- two athletes who have racked up achievements at the international level but are also seeking to bounce back from subpar performances in Tokyo.</p><p>Obiena finished 11th in Tokyo, clearing 5.70-meters. Since then, he has joined the exclusive six-meter club and won gold at the Asian Games, and silver at the world championships behind record-holder Mondo Duplantis of Sweden. He has acknowledged that his build-up to Paris has not been the best -- a &quot;bumpy road&quot; is how he described it -- but Obiena remains a top contender and is determined to reach the podium.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/7/21/paris-2024-ej-obiena-battling-with-physical-problems-ahead-of-olympic-games-1108">READ: EJ Obiena ‘battling with physical problems’ ahead of Olympic Games</a></div><p>Yulo was already a world champion by the time the Tokyo Olympics rolled around, which made it all the more shocking when he failed to qualify in the finals of his pet event -- the floor exercise. He did make it to the vault final, eventually placing fourth.</p><p>Much has changed for Yulo since then, including parting ways with his long-time coach, Munehiro Kugimiya. He enters the Olympics on the back of a series of strong performances in the FIG World Cup and the Asian Championships, raising hopes that he can peak just in time for the Paris Games.</p><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/1722000560790072624_Obiena x Yulo.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Filipino athletes EJ Obiena and Carlos Yulo, two of the Philippines&#x27; brightest medal hopes in the 2024 Paris Olympics. POC-PSC Media and Czar Dancel, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Filipino athletes EJ Obiena and Carlos Yulo, two of the Philippines&#x27; brightest medal hopes in the 2024 Paris Olympics. <em>POC-PSC Media and Czar Dancel, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span>A total of 22 athletes in nine sports will represent the Philippines in Paris -- the country&#x27;s largest delegation since 1992 in Barcelona.</div><p>Their campaign officially starts on July 27, with rower Joanie Delgaco -- a first-time Olympian -- competing in the women&#x27;s single sculls at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.</p><p>But before that will be the opening ceremony on July 26, where Petecio and Paalam will carry the Philippine flag at the festivities at the River Seine. It promises to be a historic affair, as it marks the first time that the opening ceremonies will not be held at a stadium. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/7/24/petecio-paalam-to-lead-16-strong-ph-contingent-in-olympics-opening-1755">READ: Petecio, Paalam to lead 16-strong PH contingent in Olympics opening</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/7/26/paris-braces-for-most-incredible-olympics-opening-ceremony-1256">READ: Paris braces for &#x27;most incredible&#x27; Olympics opening ceremony</a></div><p>They will be joined by 14 other members of the Philippine delegation, including fellow boxers Aira Villegas and Hergie Bacyadan, hurdlers Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang Tolentino, swimmers Kayla Sanchez and Jarrod Hatch, gymnast Aleah Finnegan and fencer Samantha Catantan.</p><p>Chef de Mission Jonvic Remulla and sports officials Michael Angelo Vargas (swimming), Marcus Manalo (boxing), Cynthia Carrion Norton (gymnastics), Patrick Gregorio (rowing) and Agapito &quot;Terry&quot; Capistrano (athletics) will also be on the boat assigned for the Philippines in the lavish ceremony that start at 7:30 p.m. (1:30 a.m. in Manila).</p><p>After that, it will be all systems go with the Filipino athletes all seeking to etch their name into the country&#x27;s sporting history. </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/z6YwCBmGuLc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Filipino athletes set a new standard in 2021 in Tokyo, when they brought home four medals from the pandemic-delayed Summer Olympics -- including the country's first ever gold.</p>

Filipino athletes set a new standard in 2021 in Tokyo, when they brought home four medals from the pandemic-delayed Summer Olympics -- including the country's first ever gold.

Hopes high as Team PH looks to make history in Paris Games

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Hopes high as Team PH looks to make history in Paris Games

Camille Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 26, 2024 09:36 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 27, 2024 03:49 AM PHT

Read More:

abssports

Team Philippines

Paris Olympics

Olympic Games

2024 Olympics

Bambol Tolentino

Carlos Yulo

EJ Obiena

Carlo Paalam

Nesthy Petecio

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