Olympic fencer Sam Catantan says Filipinos have what it takes to win
samctntn/Instagram
Samantha Catantan recently made history by becoming the first Filipino fencer to compete in the Olympics since 1992.
As she joins the 2024 Paris Olympics contingent, along with the roster of world-class Filipino athletes, Catantan highlights the immense support she received from fellow Filipinos.
In her most recent Instagram post, where she is shown wearing a shirt with a Philippine flag, Catantan shared how she has been receiving massive support from her fellow countrymen, describing it as “no other.”
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She further expressed her gratitude, saying, “I want to express my gratitude to those who continue to stand behind Filipino athletes. Isa po kayo sa aming inspirasyon at ang inyong suporta ay nagdudulot ng ngiting walang katulad. Let’s keep our hopes up and pray for more Filipinos to qualify for the Paris Olympics.”
After her winning match, she also poured out her emotions on the platform, writing, “If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it. No words can describe how grateful I am to everyone who prayed, supported and believed in me. This is for the Philippines and the Filipinos.”
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Catantan concluded with a hopeful statement: “Malayo pa, pero malayo na rin! Lalaban at lalaban para sa bayan.”
Moreover, in an exclusive interview with Dzi Gervacio on Pilipinas Live’s Starting Lineup, as shared by One Sports PH, she put emphasis on the defining local traits that can help Filipinos excel in the fencing world. The 22-year-old Olympics-bound fencer referred to Filipinos as “madiskarte.”
“Madiskarte po kasi tayong mga Pilipino and talaga pong masipag at matiyaga tayo. Nasa’tin po yung traits na kailangan para po gumaling ka sa fencing,” she expressed in the said interview.
Reflecting on her journey, Catantan also shared her optimism about the future of fencing in the Philippines in the same interview. She expressed her hopes for an expanding fencing community in the country and encouraged more young Filipinos to take up the sport.
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A former University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) juniors MVP with the University of the East, Catantan also served as captain of the Penn State fencing team before stepping down to focus on her studies.
She recently graduated with an accounting major, celebrating this milestone on Instagram with a post: “We did it! So proud of the best class (2024)! Thanks for the amazing memories I’ll cherish forever and ever. I love y’all.”
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