Olympians see end of PH medal drought

President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his message for Rio-bound Filipino athletes. MARLON RAMOS

THE PHILIPPINE Olympians Association believes that Filipino athletes seeing action in the coming Rio de Janeiro Olympics are well equipped to finally end the country’s long medal drought in the Summer Games.

Association chair Rafael “Paeng” Hechanova said hopes are high that at least half of the 12 Filipino Olympians have proven their competitiveness to go head to head with the world’s best.

“Winning a medal in the Olympics is tough, even during my time,” said the 88-year-old Hechanova, a member of the national basketball team in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. “But I believe we can do it [this time].”

The Philippines has not won a medal in the Summer Games since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, when boxer Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco brought home a silver.

Makati Rep. Monsour del Rosario, who competed in taekwondo in the 1988 Seoul Olympics, shares Hechanova’s opinion and sees Kirstie Elaine Alora as medal hope.

“Elaine knows how to fight and can defeat opponent bigger than her,” said Del Rosario, a board member of the POA.

Also of the same opinion are POA president Gillian Akiko Thomson-Guevara (swimming) and fellow board members Stephen Fernandez (taekwondo) and Roel Velasco, who seized a boxing bronze medal in the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Apart from Alora, sports officials see medal potentials in lifters Hidilyn Diaz, Nestor Colonia, boxers Rogen Ladon and Charly Suarez and hurdler Eric Cray.