Sam Catantan has found redemption in becoming the 12th Filipino to qualify for the Olympics.
The Philippines’ Centennial team to the Olympics has another member.
Fencing star Sam Catantan has her slot for the Paris Games later this year, taking her ticket after winning the 2024 Asia-Oceanic Zonal Olympic Qualifier for women’s foil in UAE.
Catantan scored a dramatic 15-14 decision in the finale over Sofiya Aktayeva of Kazakhtan, becoming the first Filipino fencer to make it to the Olympics in 32 years.
The former UAAP juniors MVP bucked a late injury scare before taking the win. It can be recalled that Catantan suffered an ACL tear last year, causing her to settle for a silver medal in the 2023 SEA Games.
Some 11 months later though, Catantan has found redemption in becoming the 12th Filipino to qualify for the Olympics.
[Related: LIST: Filipino athletes qualified for Paris 2024 Olympics]
Catantan will join EJ Obiena (pole vault), boxers Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, and Eumir Marcial, weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, Elreen Ando, and John Ceniza, gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Alea Finnegan, and Levi Jung-Ruivivar, and Joanie Delgaco (rowing) in Paris.