The 2024 Olympics are officially underway.
July 26th marked the opening ceremony in Paris, which culminated with Celine Dion's first performance after four years! The momentous sports event will see around 10,500 athletes representing 205 delegations, including our homeland—the Philippines.
A total of 22 Filipino athletes will be gunning for the gold across 11 categories. Veteran designer Francis Libiran created the delegation's attire, named the Sinag barong. In an exclusive interview with Preview, he explained the origin of the barong, as well as his design process.
Below, meet the athletes!
FULL LIST: Meet the Filipino Athletes Competing in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France
EJ Obiena, Athletics - Pole Vault
It's the second Olympics bid for EJ Obiena, who currently stands at second place in the world's ranking for men's pole vaulting.
Lauren Hoffman, Athletics - Women's 400m Hurdles
Filipino-American runner Lauren Hoffman switched to representing the Philippine delegation in 2023, repping the Pearl of the Orient in the 19th Asian Games.
John Cabang Tolentino, Athletics - 110m Hurdles
Born in Madrid, Spain to Filipino parents, John Cabang Tolentino previously competed at the Compeonato de Euskadi in Spain, setting the national record at 13.65 seconds for the same hurdles he'll face at the Olympics.
Carlo Paalam, Boxing
Family man Carlo Paalam bagged the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, and is now going for the gold to make his home province of Bukidnon proud!
Nesthy Petecio, Boxing
Davao del Sur olympian Nesthy Petecio is looking to bump up her silver medal from the Tokyo Olympics to a gold one from this year's Paris stint.
Eumir Marcial, Boxing
Decorated with a silver medal from the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and a bronze medal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Eumir Marcial is looking to finish with a knockout performance in the ring at the upcoming games.
Hergie Bacyadan, Boxing
Hailing from Tabuk, Kalinga, boxer Hergie Bacyadan makes his Olympics debut after winning gold at the World Vovinam Championship in Hanoi, Vietnam. (Read our Preview In Focus feature with him here: Hergie Bacyadan Is Ready for His Olympic Dream)
Aira Villegas, Boxing
Continuing her brother's dream of becoming a national boxer, Leyte-raised Aira Villegas is making her Olympics debut after winning the quarterfinals during the 1st Olympic Qualifying Tournament last March and taking home the bronze medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
Carlos Yulo, Gymnastics
Forbes 3o Under 30 Asia lister Carlos Yulo became the first male athlete in Southeast Asia to bag gold at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in 2019, and has won four gold medals at the recently-concluded 11th Senior Men Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Emma Malabuyo, Gymnastics
After her third-place finish in the 2024 Asian Championships, marking the highest place a Filipina gymnast had ever achieved in the competition, Emma Malabuyo clinched a ticked to the 2024 Paris Olympics, an event she'd been dreaming about since childhood.
Aleah Finnegan, Gymnastics
Filipino-American gymnast Alea Finnegan first represented the Philippines at the 2022 Southeast Asian Games, winning four medals at the prestigious competition. She went on to secure her Olympics spot at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium.
Levi Jung-Ruivivar, Gymnastics
18-year-old Levi Jung-Ruivivar began studying gymnastics at just over a year old, and is now representing the Philippines at the 2024 Olympics after obtaining Filipino citizenship in 2022. She qualified for the Olympics after competing in the FIG World Cup series.
Bianca Pagdanganan, Golf
Bianca Pagdanganan won gold for team events and bronze for individual events in the 2018 Asian Games, and went on to represent the Philippines during the 2021 Tokyo Games. She currently ranks at 37 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Dottie Ardina, Golf
Laguna-born golfer Dottie Ardina was the youngest ever player at the World Amateur Team Championships, playing the field at age 12. While she rescinded her participation at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, she went on to win the 2022 Copper Rock Championship, and currently ranks 53rd in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Samantha Catantan, Fencing
Samantha Catantan is the first Filipino fencer to take the Olympic stage after 32 years. Despite becoming injured during the the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier this year, she effectively secured her spot in the 2024 Olympics.
Kiyomi Watanabe, Judo
Filipino-Japanese judoka Kiyomi Watanabe made her debut competing for the Philippines at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games, and bagged the Philippines' first gold medal at the Asian Youth Judo Championship. This is her second Olympic stint.
Jarod Hatch, Swimming
After deciding to retire from his swimming career in 2021, Jarod Hatch reawakened his passion for the sport, winning silver and bronze at the Southeast Asian Games, and qualified for the 2024 Olympics through the Universality clause given to top-ranking male athletes in the country.
Kayla Noelle Sanchez, Swimming
Singapore-born Kayla Sanchez won two medals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, as well as two bronze medals at the 2019 FINA World Championships, breaking the national records in both the women’s 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays.
Joanie Delgaco, Rowing
Joanie Delgaco is the first Filipina rower to participate in the Olympics, having clinched her slot through the 2024 Asia Oceania Qualification Tournament in April 2024.
Elreen Ando, Weightlifting
After two runner-up placements in the Southeast Asian Games, Elreen Ando bagged a gold medal, breaking the record for the women's 59-kilogram division in lifting 98 and 118 kilograms. She went on to surpass the performance of gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz during the 2024 IWF World Cup, where they were both participating.
John Ceniza, Weightlifting
In April 2024, John Ceniza secured his ticket to the Olympics by recording a total lift of 300 kilograms in the IWF World Cup in Thailand. Before this, he won silver during the Southeast Asian Games and bagged a bronze medal in the World Cup.
Vanessa Sarno, Weightlifting
Vanessa Sarno broke her own national record of 108 kilograms by lifting 110 kilograms from snatch during the IWF World Cup in Thailand, marking the Olympic debut for the 20-year-old weightlifter.
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