MANILA, April 23 ------ Two more Filipino athletes have qualified to the Paris Olympics later this year, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino confirmed. "Eleven, formally, and counting," Tolentino said of the country's representatives to the 2024 Summer Games after gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar and rower Joanie Delgaco officially became the 10th and 11th Filipino Paris Olympians in a little over a 24-hour span.
Jung-Ruivivar qualified on Friday night at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup in Doha where she grabbed a silver medal in the uneven bars and enough qualification points. She is the third Filipino gymnast to qualify, after Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan. Jung-Ruivivar previously competed for the United States before announcing her decision to represent the Philippines in September 2023. The 17-year-old gymnast traces her Filipino roots to her father Anthony, who was born in Hawaii. He was also a former member of the US juniors gymnastics team.
On Sunday morning, Delgaco finished fourth in the 2,000 meters of women’s single sculls at the World Rowing Asian and Oceania Olympic and Paralympic Qualification Regatta and Asian Rowing Cup in Chungju, South Korea, enough to earn a ticket to Paris. Delgaco clocked 2:03.23, finishing behind Uzbekistan, Japan, and Iran in the event. "Congratulations to our new qualified Olympians," said Tolentino in a social media post. "Their dedication, perseverance and exceptional talent are an inspiration to us all." "The POC extends its heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for continued success as they compete in Paris 2024," he added. "The entire Philippines stands behind you."
Other Filipino athletes who are guaranteed their spots in the Paris Games are: pole vaulter EJ Obiena; boxers Eumir Felix Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas; and weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, Erleen Ann Ando and John Febuar Ceniza. Weightlifter Rosegie Ramos is unofficially the 12th Filipino to qualify for Paris pending the International Weightlifting Federation’s official announcement of the roster for the Games.
The country is also guaranteed three qualifiers—one in athletics and two in swimming—under the universality rule making the Filipino Olympian count unofficially at 15. "We expect more of our athletes to be in Paris as the qualifiers in various sports are still being conducted," said Tolentino.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com