MANILA, April 25 ------ National fencer Sam Catantan expressed her readiness and excitement as she gears up for the Asian Olympic Qualifying Tournament in the United Arab Emirates from April 27 to 28. This will serve as the last qualifiers for the Olympics, where winners will be awarded spots for the Paris Games.
But behind Catantan's enthusiasm was a wearying journey to full recovery after hurting her right knee in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia. She wasn't able to defend her gold and only settled for silver in said regional meet. "I'm very, very excited po for the upcoming tournament. Siyempre po this season was tough for me. I wasn't able po to join every international tournament. And I pretty much missed the whole qualifying [tournament] for Olympics," Catantan told ABS-CBN News. "I'm very grateful to represent the Philippines again," she went on.
Catantan, a 22-year-old foilist and a collegiate champion in the UAAP, only started fencing again in February as she recovered from a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). "I think I'm pretty much ready po. I started fencing only around February, like last week of Feb. So I only started fencing like only two months before the tournament but I worked really hard to get to this point."
The Philippines' fencing bet was also quick to give credit to her coaches at the Pennsylvania State University in the United States, where she also currently studies. "And even the coaches here in Penn State, they've been helping a lot to fence competitively again and also I joined like a lot of tournaments before going to qualifying in Dubai."
Catantan recently advanced to the 2024 US NCAA Fencing Championship and finished 10th out of the best 24 fencers in the US. The product of University of the East also shared the progress in her recovery. "Since po nung dumating ako dito, I started doing my rehab, my physical therapy. So I did my surgery po [nung] June, and then I came back here around August. And then ever since I was doing my rehab and strength conditioning."
Catantan said she still trained in fencing without the use of her knees. "At the same time, I was doing fencing while sitting down. So nagwa-one-on-one lesson po ako with my coaches just to maintain po 'yung strength ng kamay ko and hand works. So ever since my injury... kahit 'di po ako makapag-fencing I was still trying to do other things that I can do to gain my strength back."
Catantan stressed that she won't stop fencing until she reaches the Olympics. "Actually since after surgery po, I feel that I love fencing more. I also feel that I just started fencing. So every time I train and I go to tournaments, I'm very excited and for me po as of now, like less stressful siya for me, because I just got back from the injury so I have no expectations every time I come to the strip but at the same time I always give my best and it's more just enjoyable for me, which I think helps me a lot," she said. "I won't stop until of course I make it to Olympics." she added.
The Philippines' top-ranked fencer almost reached the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after placing third in the last qualifiers but ultimately missed it after only one athlete qualified for the Games that time.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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