AND while we’re still thinking about it, here are 12 important facts that Filipino sports fans should know regarding the Philippines and the Olympic Games.

1.The Philippines made its debut in the Olympic Games in 1924 in Paris, France. The Filipinos have competed in every edition of the Olympics since 1924, except when they participated in the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics.in Moscow, Russia. The 2024 Paris Olympics marked the 100th year anniversary of the country’s participation in the world’s biggest sporting event.

2. Weightlifting champion Hidilyn Diaz made history by winning the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal with her triumph in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 33-year-old pride of Zamboanga City set a new Olympic weightlifting records by lifting 127 kg in the clean and jerk and lifting a total weight of 224 kg.

3.With his two-gold medal haul in the recently-concluded 2024 Paris Olympics, gymnast Caloy.Yulo is now the most successful Filipino athlete in the Olympics. The pride of Leveriza, Manila is also one of only four Filipinos with multiple Olympic medals, joining Diaz (gold in 2020 Tokyo and silver in 2016 Rio de Janeiro), boxer Nesthy Petecio (silver in 2020 Tokyo and bronze in 2024 Paris) and swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso (bronze in 1924 Amsterdam and bronze in 1932 Los Angeles).

4. Yldefonso’s bronze medal in men’s 200-m breastsroke during the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, however, stands out as the country’s first-ever Olympic medal.

5. Boxer Anthony Villanueva, son of 1932 Los Angeles Olympics bronze medalist Jose Villanueva, delivered the country’s first Olympic silver medal during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics — or 32 years after his father did it with a bronze.

6. Overall, a total of 14 Filipinos have won 18 Olympic medals in five sports — three golds, five silvers and 10 bronzes.

7. Of the five sports which delivered Olympic medals, boxing produced 10 medals (four silvers and six bronzes). Athletics, gymnastics, swimming and weightlifting have contributed two medals each.

8. Until Diaz’s silver medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, boxing was also the only sport which brought home a medal — silver or bronze — from 1964 Tokyo Olympics to 1996 Atlanta Olympics, covering 32 years.

9. Based on numbers, the Philippines sent its biggest delegation in the history of the Olympic Games with 53 athletes — 48 men and five women — during the 1972 Munich Olympics. The country also sent 49 athletes in the 1968 Mexico Olympics, 47 athletes in Tokyo Olympics and 40 athletes in 1960 Olympics.

10. The country’s highest finish in basketball was fifth place in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, posting a 4-1 win-loss record with a team handled by coach Dionisio Calvo and led by Sen. Ambrosio Padilla and Jacinto Cruz. The last time the Filipinos played in the Olympics, however, was in the 1972 Munich Olympics. Led by Freddie Webb and Bogs Adornado, the team finished 13th overall wth a 3-6 record.

11. Although only a demonstration sport, Arianne Cerdena actually delivered the country’s first-ever gold medal by winning the bowling competitions during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Another outstanding Filipino athlete, Stephen Fernandez also captured a bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympic Games when taekwondo was still a demonstration sport.

12. The Philippines has yet to win a medal in the Winter Olympics since its debut in the 1972 Sapporo Olympics. In 2014, the Philippines sent the first Filipino and Southeast Asian figure skater to the Sochi WinterOlympics, the first time a tropical country has participated in the men’s figure skating event

This early, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richard Bachmann are already looking at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles with their eyes set on surpassing this year’s 2-0-2 gold-silver-bronze medal finish.

Yulo, who would be 28 in 2028 Los Angeles, is looking for a fitting follow-up, while other world-class athletes like E J. Obiena, Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, Eumir Marcial, Vanessa Sarno, Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina are hoping for redemption.

NOTES — Belated happy birthday to my sister Mary Grace Andaya-Ypil, who celebrated last August 5.

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