Camille Naredo

The Philippines' Tallulah Proulx at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Handout/Philippine Olympic Committee

The Philippines' Tallulah Proulx at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Article (news)

2026 Winter Olympics

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1774426246466021826_Tallulah Proulx.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The Philippines&#x27; Tallulah Proulx at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Handout/Philippine Olympic Committee" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Philippines&#x27; Tallulah Proulx at the 2026 Winter Olympics. <em>Handout/Philippine Olympic Committee</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – The Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation is confident that the country can send a bigger delegation in the next Winter Olympics, as more athletes have expressed interest in representing the flag. </p><p>In the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, the Philippines was represented by Filipino-American alpine skier Tallulah Proulx and Filipino-Italian alpine skier Francis Ceccarelli. </p><p>Proulx finished 52nd in giant slalom and 50th in slalom, while Ceccarelli placed 54th in giant slalom in the Milano Cortina Games. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/3/24/winter-olympian-tallulah-proulx-says-filipina-athletes-capable-driven-to-shine-on-world-stage-1946">READ: Winter Olympian Tallulah Proulx says Filipina athletes capable, driven to shine on world stage</a></div><p>PSSF President Jim Apelar said he received requests from athletes, some of Filipino roots or heritage, who want to compete for the Philippines.  </p><p>&quot;We were very visible in the [Winter] Olympics. I got probably about 10 inquiries who want to sign up for the Philippine flag or who want to switch countries. There&#x27;s a way of doing that, it&#x27;s called nation transfer,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News. </p><p>Apelar said the Philippines has developed in terms of representation in winter sports.  </p><p>The country has sent athletes to seven editions of the Winter Olympics, beginning the 1972 Sapporo Winter Games. </p><p>&quot;The Philippines is in a very unique position. We&#x27;re one of the few countries who have diaspora people. We have 11 million people in snow countries and we have that advantage. And if they can get their passport in order, a Philippine passport, which is a number one requirement, then definitely they can do and transfer or do some representation for the Philippines,&quot; Apelar said. </p><p>&quot;We&#x27;ll be willing to do that, definitely. And that&#x27;s our aim, that we have a lot of Filipinos all over the world who wants to give glory to the Philippines where they came from or their parents came from,&quot; she added. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DEVELOPING HOMEGROWN ATHLETES </strong></div><p>The PSSF is working on developing homegrown athletes in winter sports, by teaching them similar skills through what they call &#x27;kalsada roller skiing.&#x27;  </p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re developing a roller ski program. Roller skiing is, I call it, kalsada roller skiing. It&#x27;s skiing with wheels. But the movement of roller skiing is 90% of the movement of cross-country skiing. And cross-country skiing has a summer program,&quot; Apelar said.</p><p>&quot;The off-season who want to get in shape, they call it summer roller skiing. Almost the same movement. So now, we thought maybe the Philippines could have that. And we can develop from the ground up to cross-country skiing,&quot; he explained. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/2/21/poc-s-tolentino-sees-bright-future-for-ph-in-winter-olympics-1309">READ: POC&#x27;s Tolentino sees bright future for PH in Winter Olympics</a></div><p>The PSSF has set up four roller skiing clubs in Rizal: one each in Binangonan, Cardona, Morong, and Teresa. </p><p>&quot;By doing so, we thought that we can develop cross-country skiers from this. Right now, we have about 52 kids training every week to become, one of these days, one of the few that we would like to take to Korea for snow training in cross-country. So they will transition from kalsada roller skiing to actual cross-country skiing in snow,&quot; Apelar said. </p><p>The PSSF President pointed to Edward Limbaga, the first Pinoy Cross Country Snow Skiier, who competed in the FIS World Cup in Ruka, Finland. </p><p>&quot;He started roller skiing. And then, he exposed himself to cross-country skiing in Thailand, in Korea, and Kazakhstan. And by the time we know, he was in the World Cup. Not in roller skiing, he converted his roller skiing points to cross-country skiing. So he was in snow skiing,&quot; he said. </p><p>Apelar said Limbaga nearly qualified for the Winter Olympics, citing he will give it another try for the next edition. </p><p>The PSSF chief is hopeful that with all these efforts, the Philippines will be able to show the country&#x27;s capability and competitiveness in winter sports. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><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/urFZ7QuCdw0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation is confident that the country can send a bigger delegation in the next Winter Olympics, as more athletes have expressed interest in representing the flag.</p>

The Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation is confident that the country can send a bigger delegation in the next Winter Olympics, as more athletes have expressed interest in representing the flag.

PSSF eyes to send more athletes to Winter Olympics, develop homegrown talent

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PSSF eyes to send more athletes to Winter Olympics, develop homegrown talent

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 25, 2026 04:14 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation

Winter Olympics

Winter Sports

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