Lauren Hoffman embraces Filipino side through food after Olympics

Team Philippines’ hurdles Lauren Hoffman (second from left) during the Heroes parade for the Filipino athletes after the Paris Olympics. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Team Philippines’ Lauren Hoffman posted a Tiktok video not too long ago after her campaign in the Paris Olympics 2024 women’s 400m hurdles competition that showed off her wits as a Filipino.

While Kendrick Lamar’s hit song “B****, Don’t Kill My Vibe” played in the background, Hoffman showed off her newest shirt that played with the lyrics of the 2012 classic.

The lyrics were, “I am a sinner who’s probably going to sin again, Lord forgive me.”

Hoffman sang the same song, except she went: “I am a sinner who’s probably going to Sinigang,” which numerous fans online found funny.

READ: PH hurdler Lauren Hoffman ends Paris Olympics campaign

However, despite the funny content and the giggles, Hoffman revealed that the story of that shirt was one of the wins he notched in Paris for the summer games.

She didn’t finish with a medal for the Philippines but the 25-year-old Filipino got something more valuable–a reconnection with her Filipino side.

The funnier thing is, that she got it via her interest in Philippine-based dishes.

Philippines’ Lauren Hoffman, competes in the women’s 400m hurdles repechage round of the athletics event at the Paris Olympics at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 5, 2024. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP)

“I was craving Asian food when I was out in Paris because the athletes’ dining hall was only okay. After so much of that I thought, I need some Asian food. I asked people for recommendations and there was actually a Filipino restaurant there with this world-renowned Filipino chef and I was like, I have to go,” explained Hoffman at Newport World Resorts on Tuesday.

READ: Paris Olympics: Hurdler Lauren Hoffman also stays in medal hunt

“I went there, had an amazing time eating Filipino food, reconnecting with some Filipinos out there and I also got that free shirt, it was funny and I really liked it,” Hoffman further explained, telling how she got her newfound favorite shirt.

Hoffman wasn’t new to representing the country.

Even when she was at Duke University, Hoffman proudly donned the Red, White and Blue around her sleeve.

The Filipino-American sprinter brought her spirit to the big leagues in Paris for the 400m hurdles events and while she didn’t come home with the medal, she still got something to feel triumphant about despite the defeat.

READ; Lauren Hoffman grateful for Olympic experience after Paris exit

That visit she had to that Filipino restaurant in Paris was her “morale booster” after a disheartening exit in the summer games.

The love she got in that restaurant made her realize that she made Filipinos like her around the world proud. That alone is as sweet as a medal finish.

“That was a morale booster because I was pretty upset after my race but meeting people who were proud of me regardless of the time [was nice]. Qualifying for the Olympics, representing on the highest stage, I feel like that was what’s important to a lot of people.”

“I’m happy to have made people proud in that way.”