The Philippines’ Asa Miller checks out the course before the first run in giant slalom on Sunday. Photo from POC
Nobody is expecting him to win a medal, but everybody keeps cheering Asa Miller nonetheless.
That included Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chair Butch Ramirez, who likened the 21-year-old Fil-American to Hidilyn Diaz, who bagged the Philippines’ first and only Olympic gold medal on her fourth attempt.
“Hidilyn was only 17—and a wild-card entry—in her first Olympics in Beijing 2008. She returned in London 2012 and won silver in Rio 2016,” Ramirez said. “Finally, after four Olympic cycles and enormous hard work, dedication and love and passion for her sport and the country, she did it in Tokyo.”
No matter how he placed, Ramirez said the country is behind Miller as he carries solo the country’s colors in the ongoing Winter Olympics in Beijing. Miller was only trying to improve his 70th place finish in the 2018 Pyeongchang Games
Crashing out
The Oregon-based Miller competed on Sunday in the giant slalom, but crashed in the first 20 seconds of his run under falling snow and poor visibility. He will see action again on Wednesday in men’s slalom.
“I am confident Asa will be skiing his very best at the Beijing Olympics, knowing fully well that he’s proud to wear the country’s colors on the biggest winter games stage,” Ramirez said.
“I watched Hidilyn grow and blossom into an Olympic champion and what I saw in her was her discipline and determination to win,” Ramirez said. “For Asa, I am confident that he will carry the same determination, discipline and focus when he competes against the world’s best.”
Ramirez was PSC chair when Diaz first competed in the Olympics. His second term at the agency saw Diaz capturing the silver and eventually the gold in the Games.
Diaz herself joined a squad of Filipino top athletes cheering on Miller.
“I know you prepared for this,” said Diaz. “This is the day and good luck.”
Along with Diaz, Tokyo Olympic medalists Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial also threw their support on Miller on the eve of his event.