Meet the Fil-Am athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics
aleahfinn/Instagram, mitchellsaron/Instagram, emma_malabuyo/Instagram
The 2024 Paris Olympics are just around the corner, kicking off on Friday, July 26. The grand opening ceremony will be historic, with athletes from around the world parading not in the stadium but along the Seine River on boats!
This year, the Philippine delegation is the largest in over three decades. Ranging from boxing and pole vaulting to gymnastics, Filipino athletes are aiming to secure a podium finish or another gold medal, the first of which was won by weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz in 2020.
Before the games begin, here are the Filipino American athletes who will be showcasing their prowess, whether as part of Team Philippines or Team USA, in this year’s summer Games.
Lauren Hoffman, Track and Field
Track and field star Lauren Hoffman is sprinting towards success as she heads to the Paris Olympics. Known for her record-breaking feats, Hoffman has etched her name into the Duke University record books with a 55.67-second time in the 400-meter hurdles.
Additionally, she set a new national benchmark in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.34 seconds at the Duke Invitational in Durham, North Carolina.
Logan Edra, Breaking
Representing Team USA in the first-ever Olympic breakdancing competition, Fil-Am dancer Edra is poised to make history as “breaking” debuts in Paris. She will join three other dancers to represent the United States in breakdancing’s inaugural appearance at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 9 and 10.
Edra’s vision for the sport extends beyond personal achievement; she aims to captivate audiences around the world by showcasing breaking as an “art-sport,” much like skateboarding.
Levi Jung-Ruvivar, Gymnastics
Joining Carlos Yulo in representing the Philippines at the Olympics, 18-year-old Jung-Ruvivar is the youngest member of the Philippine delegation.
Born in Hawai’i, her Filipino heritage comes through her father, Anthony, a former member of the US junior gymnastics team. Jung-Ruvivar’s multicultural background and strong family connections have profoundly influenced her athletic career and her choice to compete for the Philippines on the global stage.
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In her first few days in Paris, she’s already made some friends and embraced the “barbie vibes” of the gymnastics arena, writing, “I’m so here for it!”
Mitchell Saron, Fencing
Fil-Am fencer Mitchell Saron will be competing for the USA Fencing men’s team at the Paris Olympics. A senior economics major at Harvard, Saron credits his wellness habits for helping him reach this milestone. From the halls of Harvard University to the fencing pistes in Paris, the Fil-Am athlete is living his dream.
Few days ago, Saron already touched down in Paris.
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Samantha Catantan, Fencing
Another Fil-Am fencer, who represents the Philippines, is Sam Catantan. At 22 years old, Catantan is making history as the first Filipino fencer to compete in the Olympics since 1992.
In a recent Instagram post, Catantan expressed her excitement and preparation for the Games: “The passion, the energy, the spirit – it’s all so real here!”
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She also wrote in a separate post, “I can hardly believe I’ve made it this far. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported me in my preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games. I feel truly blessed to have the best support system on this journey. Lalaban para sa bayan!”
Emma Malabuyo, Gymnastics
UCLA varsity member Emma Malabuyo is adding to the excitement as she becomes the fourth gymnast to represent the Philippines at the Olympics, joining Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan and Levi Jung-Ruvivar.
Taking to Instagram with her picture of the Olympics logo, Malabuyo couldn’t believe she’s living her dream, captioning, “Is this real life?!”
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She clinched her Olympic berth on May 24 at the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where she bagged bronze in the individual all-around category.
Aleah Finnegan, Gymnastics
Joining the gymnastics team is Aleah Finnegan. Previously a member of the US women’s national gymnastics team, the Fil-Am gymnast made history by becoming the first Filipina gymnast in six decades to secure a spot in the Olympics, according to the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines.
During her first few days in Paris, Finnegan shared a photo with teammates Emma Malabuyo and Carlos Yulo. Like many other athletes, she also posted a photo with the Olympics logo, captioning it, “Checking in from the Olympic Village.”
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The future looks bright for the Philippine and US teams with these Fil-Am athletes. The Opening Ceremony is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. EST and is expected to last over three hours.
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