YES, fairy tales still come true, at least some. Just like dreams, some become reality, but many still remain as dreams.

That in essence captures what our 22 athletes to the Paris Olympics went through, for some, will still go through as of this writing as boxer Nesthy Petecio has yet to complete her semifinals match while our golfers and weightlifters start their campaign today.

That by itself, the fact that these 22 athletes all made it to the Olympics, for the first time for almost all, is a dream come true for any athlete.

Competing in the Olympics where only the world’s best athletes can join as they go various qualifying tournaments to earn Olympic slots, that is the penultimate dream, winning a gold is the ultimate dream.

We as a country waited for close to a century before weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz struck for gold in the previous Tokyo Olympics, that was a very big dream come true. Unfortunately, her dream of winning a second gold in Paris did not come to pass as she did not qualify.

But still, Hidilyn’s name will forever be etched in the history of Philippine sports, never to be forgotten because of that milestone.

Back to the present, even as the Olympic Games is winding down and Nesthy pursues her dream, our golfers and weightlifters also do, I read about their competitors in the respective sports and events and there is no other way to describe it but uphill.

No, I am not ruling out the possibility of striking another medal for any of them, that is my optimistic side, but the realistic part of me tells me that yes, it is possible , but sorry, not probable.

Our biggest renaining hope for a silver or anotger gold lies on Nesthy and the entire country is behind her, praying and rooting for her.

Aira Villegas has done her job, on her very first Olympics , she delivered a bronze medal, a huge accomplishment and she has nothing to apologize for, she gave it her best shot and is going home with an Olympic medal.

Carlo Paalam is a different case, I look at myself as a realistic and practical person but I watched too Carlo’s quarterfinals match and the decision that went his opponent’s way is dubious to say the least, I honestly believe Carlo should have won that fight , period.

Boxer Eumir Marcial lost to a better boxer, his dream of winning an Olympic gold gone, and I think that was his last stab for Olympic glory, I wish him luck in his professional career.

Another dream dashed was EJ Obiena’s placing just outside the podium as he could only place 4th, as he said, the worst finish for an athlete in the Olympics, being there and being not there, just almost.

Of course I am disappointed, as EJ is, more him than me I am sure, but that is sports, what is important is he picked up lessons he can apply in the future, yes, I believe he will still have another opportunity in the next Olympics, and he has the next four years to improve himself.

For the other athletes , our female gymnasts, track athletes, swimmers, and rower, for the younger ones, perhaps there will be another chance.

For the older ones, they can always look back to that special time they were in the Olympics, even if most did not go beyond the initial rounds or heats, personally, I was not optimistic of our medal chances in these disciplines.

Now comes the fairy tale part of the story.

Never did I imagine in the past that a Filipino athlete will win two gold medals in one Olympic Games but that is exactly what diminutive gymnast Carlos Yulo accomplished, this is a strong argument that in doing so, he may be considered the greatest Filipino athlete ever, until someone breaks his record and wins more than two golds in the Olympic Games.

And the rewards that will come his way is also something that he himself may have not imagined, a veritable rags-to-riches story of a poor athlete who made good or even very good.

What I like most is the fact that he is a home boy, a pure Filipino talent who never deviated from his chosen path and goal.

His present age may even allow him to go for another Olympic Games in 2028 as a swan song but he does not have to do that to earn his place in our list of trul sports heroes, he already has earned that , his record of two Olympic golds, I dare say will remain unbroken for a long time.

To all our Olympians, thank you

Special thanks to those who bought home medals, may your tribe increase.