Pinay rower Joanie Delgaco is eagerly anticipating the Paris Olympics following her impressive 4th place finish in the 2000-meter rowing Olympic qualifiers in South Korea.
Her qualification for the Summer Games was historic for Philippine sports, as she became the first Filipino female rower to achieve this milestone.
What made her journey even more impressive was that she overcame competitors who had consistently outperformed her in the past.
“They were always faster than me, and in all past competitions, I can never seem to better my time. This is unbelievable,” Delgaco said in an interview with ABS-CBN correspondent Dyan Castillejo.
Delgaco revealed that during the last 500 meters of the race, she endured intense burning in her arms and legs, along with aching in her back, and experienced significant pain. However, she summoned her inner strength and pushed through the adversity.
“My mind was already thinking all kinds of things. I almost had nothing left, but I was thinking of all the sacrifices and all the hard work I’ve put in, and I said I needed to go and push.”
Joanie said that her one-month training stint in China significantly elevated her skills, with the weather conditions playing a particularly beneficial role in her preparation.
“It was very cold in China when we were training, so it helped simulate the same conditions here in Korea. My resistance really improved, so it was really a big advantage for us to train there.”
Joanie is thrilled about the prospect of being in Paris among world-class athletes and eagerly anticipates the training at the POC-provided center in Metz, France, a month before the games.
The post PH rower Joanie Delgaco eager to compete in Paris Olympics first appeared on Fastbreak.
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