THE Filipino athletes have surely come a long way in the OIympics from the time of sprinter David Nepomuceno, who represented the country for the first time in Paris in 1924 up to the days of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who captured the country’s first-ever gold medal in Tokyo in 2021.

Now, most Filipinos believe there will be more gold medals to come when the world’s biggest and most prestigious competitions return to Paris in 2024.

It will also mark the 100th year anniversary of the country’s participation in the Olympics.

One of those who believe is 1992 Barcelona Olympics bronze medalist Stephen Fernandez.

“The success of Hidilyn Diaz in the Tokyo Olympics is only the beginning. We have shown that Filipinos can really excel even in the world stage, especially in the individual sports,” said Fernandez during the 112th “Usapang Sports on Air” by the Tabloids Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) via Zoom recently.

“I am confident that there will be more young and talented athletes who can bring honors to the country, especially now that support of both the government and private sector is coming following our success in theTokyo Olympics,” added Fernandez during the weekly public service program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

A two-time Olympian in 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona, Fernandez called for more support to individual sports where the Filipino can really excel, like weightlifting, boxing, bowling and taekwondo.

“Madami talaga tayong sports na pwede mag-excel ang ating mga atleta, lalo na yung mga individual events. If you noticed, lahat ng naglalaro ngayong sa Tokyo are all individual sports,” explained Fernandez., who bagged the bronze medal when taekwondo was still a demonstration sport in Barcelona in 1992.

(Taekwondo became a regular sport in the 2000 Sydney Olympics).

“Of course, we cannot take away the fact na mahal natin lahat ang basketball sa Pilipinas.We have to give credit to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, which is doing its best na makabalik ang team natin sa Olympics. The last time we had a team sport in the Olympics was in the 1972 Munich Olympics with Senator Freddie Webb in the line-up,” added Fernandez.

“But definitely, sa individual sports, madami na tayong nnapatunayan, lalo na ngayon with Hidilyn and our boxers. We’re proud of them. Sabi nga sa opening ceremony sa Tokyo, these Olympics will bring a lot of hope to the world during the time of pandemic. Kasama na tayo dito sa Pilipinas.”

Fernandez said government and private sector support is needed to sustain the gains thi year.

“It will really take a lot of investments on the part of the government and the private sector. Sana magpatuloy ang mga suporta at ma-sustain at maalagaan ang mga atleta. Sana tuloy-tuloy din yung mga NSAs natin sa paghahanap at pag-develop ng mga batang atleta para maganda ang transition.Sabi nga, tumatanda na. So, let’s continue to love sports, enjoy it and spread the word because it is something that makes us proud not just for ourselves but for our country.”

Asked about taekwondo star Kurt Bryan Barbosa, Fernandez said there is no doubt the future remains bright and encouraging.

Fernandez said the 22-year-old pride of Bangued, Abra who lost his first — and only– match against top seed Jang Jun of South Korea can surely turn his disappointment in Tokyo into bliss in Paris in 2024.

“I see a lot of promise in Kurt. He’s really one of our young and talented players in the national team since 2019. Malaki ang future,” said Fernandez, Chairman of Regional Affairs of the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA).

“Hindi man pinalad si Kurt sa Tokyo, I am sure madami siyang magagandang lessons na natutunan sa kanyang experience.”

“Iba ang Olympics. HIndi mo ito mai-kukumpara sa ibang events dahil dito makikita mo talaga na lahat pwedeng mangyari. Even the best players in the world sometimes didn’t make it to the podium,” added Fernandez, who represented the country twice in 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona.

“Yung nakalaban nya No.1 seed from Korea. Talagang magaling. But he did his best. Let’s give credit to Kurt dahil hindi rin talaga madali yung pinagdaanan niya. Natigil yung training nila dahil sa pandemic. Then then they continued doing it indoors, tapos mahirap yun dinaanang qualifiers, Kumbaga, dumaan sa butas ng karayom.”

Fernandez hopes Barbosa and female superstar Pauline Lopez and other young taekwondo stars in both sparring and poomsae will keep their focus and determination to make it to the Paris Olympics.

“Paris 2024 is only about three and a half years away from today. Hopefully makasali ulit tayo sa mga ibang international events. Sana din magkaroon na ng face-to-face competitions soon dahil malaking bagay yun exposure sila sa actual game,” explained Fernandez, also the sports director of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde.“Aside from Kurt and Pauline, we also have Kurt Pajuelas, Dave Cea, Nica Garces and others. Sila yung ibang mga players na pwede nating asahan sa susunod na taon. Of course, Paris OIympics will not be easy dahil they will have to go through a series of tournaments that will culminate with the qualifiers. So balik talaga from the scratch.”

Fernandez is also now hoping the success of Diaz and other Tokyo Olympians will also turn the country’s attention to past sports achievers.

“As we are all saying now, Hidilyn is an inspiration to all of us. She carried the entire nation on her shoulders. Now we can talk about other Olympians, too,” claimed Fernandez, who serves as treasurer of the Philippine Olympians Association.

“There are many former athletes who are not in better situation than they were before. That’s why the POA, headed by swimming champion Akiko Thomson, is working hard together with the PSC and POC Athletes’ Commission, to come up with programs aimed at helping our forner Oympians.

“Sometimes the transition from being an athlete into a private citizen is not always easy. Kaya naman may mga programa kami sa POA na ginagawa, gaya ng mga seminars that help broaden the perspective of our athletes. They can engage in business, or they can continue their education.”

“Before the pandemic, the POA is also very active in holding sports clinics to share oyr experiences, lalo na sa mga kabataan .Kaya in the past, nagturo sina Roel at Onyok Velasco ng boxing.

Nagbigay ng weightlifting clinic sa mga street children si Hidilyn (Diaz). John Baylon also taught judo. POA is really trying to share that awareness for sports thru the youth,lalo na alam nating sports can be a way for a better life for many. Pati na din mailayo ang mga kabataan sa droga.”

Fernandez admitted there are also former Olympians who are hard-pressed to make both ends meet, especially during the pandemic.

“The POA has close to 400 members in our database simula mag-compete tayo sa Paris in 1924 pati na sa Youth and Winter Olympics. Yun iba namayapa na. Yun iba medyo hirap ngayon sa buhay. The POA is providing some assistance to our Olympians in their financial needs, pati sa medical.”

Fernandez said there are also plans by the POA to hold a recognition day for all new Olympians.

“We’re actually planning to formally welcome our new Olympians. Parang recognition day for them like in the past. As you know, ang mga members ng ating POA ay yung mga naglaro or nag-qualify sa Olympics. They automatically become members. So we’ll have a simple ceremony that we call “OLY Day”, na binibigyan sila ng medal at pin to symbolize their membership.”
Fernandez has a few words of wisdom to share to Barbosa and other future Olympians.

“Listen to your coach. It was the same during my time and the time of my fellow guest Arianne Cerdena ( Seould Olympics gold medalist) . Wala namang ituturo na hindi maganda ang inyong coach, kundi para sa kabutihan nyo. Kung ano sinabi ni coach, Yes Sir, Yes Maam, ganun lang.Of course, madami kailangan gawin. It’s a whole team going to preparations, training, psychology, nutrition, sports rehabilitation,. But the most important, yun puso pagdating sa laban.” With reports from Gab Ferreras