The Philippines’ Carlo Paalam celebrates his silver medal during the medal ceremony for the men’s fly (48-52kg) boxing final bout during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo on August 7, 2021. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / POOL / AFP)
TOKYO—Carlo Paalam teared up again the day after ascending the podium in the Tokyo Olympics.
This time, the men’s boxing flyweight silver medalist had someone to share his tears with—someone who had been more than just a positive influence in his life.
Elmer Pamisa, the coach who nurtured Paalam since the Cagayan de Pro fighter was still picking scraps out of a landfill near his shanty, also became emotional recalling how his ward promised Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (Abap) officials he’d win a medal if they would include the coach in the trip here.
“I told [officials] that if they let coach Pam come, I would do my best to win a medal,” said Paalam in Filipino via a Zoom conference. “It was a blessing from God that he discovered me.”
“And he did it, he made good on the promise,” Pamisa said, his voice cracking. Wiping tears away, the coach added: “It’s also an honor for me that he won a medal.”
Pamisa not only discovered and helped develop the young Paalam’s skills. He was also the one who searched him out when Paalam quit boxing due to a misunderstanding with team members.
Paalam revealed that after the final match, he immediately hugged Pamisa.
“I love him a lot,” said an emotional Paalam, who has said before that Pamisa was like a second father to him.
