Six Filipino athletes have already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics, but more are expected to come in the coming months.
With the qualification of boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, six Filipino athletes have officially secured their spots in the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Of course, the journey to Paris is not yet over for many Filipino athletes.
But for now, let's take a look at the six Filipinos that now have their shot at competing for the gold in France later this year.
EJ Obiena (Athletics-Pole Vault)
Arguably, the country's best chance at bagging a gold medal in Paris.
Obiena qualified for the Olympics after clearing 5.82 meters in the BAUHAUS-Galan leg of the Diamond League in Stockholm last July.
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The Asian record holder will look to continue his fine form in the hopes of bagging the country's second gold medal in the Olympics, following in the footsteps of Hidilyn Diaz in Tokyo three years ago.
Caloy Yulo (Gymnastics-Floor Exercise)
Yulo likewise secured his spot in Paris early on following his performance in the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships last October.
Despite finishing third in the event, Yulo was able to qualify after all of his opponents had already secured Olympic berths through the men’s all-around qualification.
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Paris will be the 24-year-old gymnast's second appearance in the Olympics following his debut in Tokyo in 2021 where Yulo finished fourth in the vault.
Aleah Finnegan (Gymnastics-All Around)
The Philippines will have its first female gymnast in the Olympics in 60 years, as Aleah Finnegan secured her spot for Paris by being among the top 14 eligible athletes in the women's all-around qualification at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium last October.
[ALSO READ: Fil-Am gymnast Aleah Finnegan bares realistic goals in competing in 2024 Paris Olympics]
Finnegan, who initially competed as part of the USA women's gymnastics team, has swiftly transitioned to representing the Philippines.
Last year, she made her debut for the country at the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, where she clinched gold medals in vault and team events, and also secured a pair of bronze medals at the Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Singapore in June.
Eumir Marcial (Boxing)
Three Filipino boxers have already secured their spots in the Paris Games.
The first one being Eumir Marcial after advancing to the gold medal round of the men’s 80kg class in the 19th Asian Games.
Even as gold eludes Marcial, Eumir is expected to be a top contender as he challenges for the gold once more in Paris.
Nesthy Petecio & Aira Villegas (Boxing)
Nesthy Petecio, who settled for silver in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, has once again secured her place in the Summer Games.
This time, Petecio clinched one of the two available spots in the women's featherweight 57kg division by defeating Esra Kahraman Yildiz of Turkey in the semifinals, emerging victorious via split decision.
Aira Villegas, meanwhile, will be stepping onto the Olympic stage for the first time, having secured one of the four slots in the women's 50kg division.
Her path to the Olympics was solidified with a victory over Bulgaria's Genadieva Zlatislava in the quarterfinals, earning a unanimous decision in her favor.
More Filipino athletes still looking to qualify
The Philippine Olympic Committee is expecting at least 20 qualifiers for Paris, the largest since Team Philippines brought 20 athletes to the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Among those still looking to qualify is Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, skaters Margie Didal and Kiko Francisco, Gilas Pilipinas, and other weightlifters and boxers.
Expect the Philippines to go all out in their quest to qualify for Paris.