PH 3rd in SEA with most qualified athletes for Paris

WITH just over three months remaining until the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Philippines currently boasts 12 confirmed qualifiers and is expected to add more as it currently ranks third among Southeast Asian nations in terms of secured Olympic spots.

Leading the pack is Thailand, which currently holds the highest number with 30 athletes set to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics, as of the latest update on April 20, 2024, based on the data gathered with seasia.com, a respected media website that covers the region.

Following behind is Indonesia at second place with 21 athletes, while Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam have 11, 9, and 6 qualifiers respectively.

Meanwhile, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste have yet to secure any Olympic spots for Paris.

Filipina rower Joanie Delgaco became the 12th qualified athlete after finishing fourth in the Final A of the women’s single sculls at the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Qualification Regatta held in the Republic of Korea over the weekend.

A day prior, Fil-American gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar secured her spot at the Paris Olympics during the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Doha, where she earned a silver medal and garnered sufficient qualification points.

Weightlifter Rosegie Ramos is awaiting official confirmation as the 12th Filipino to qualify for Paris, pending the announcement from the International Weightlifting Federation regarding the Games’ roster.

Additionally, the country is guaranteed three qualifiers under the universality rule—one in athletics and two in swimming—bringing the unofficial Filipino Olympian count to 15.

These athletes will join their fellow Filipinos, including EJ Obiena (Pole Vault), Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan, and Levi Jung-Ruivivar (Gymnastics), Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, and Aira Villegas (Boxing), as well as the weightlifting trio of Vanessa Sarno, John Ceniza, and Elreen Ando, at the Games scheduled for July.

— Randy Caluag