Fencer Catantan returns from ACL surgical procedure and punches ticket to Paris

Sam Catantan breaks down after scoring the profitable level over Sofiya Aktayeva. —PHOTOS BY THE INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION

Removed from peak kind, the percentages for Samantha Kyle Catantan securing a slot within the 2024 Paris Olympics weren’t very attractive.

However the Filipino fencing ace dug actually deep to rule the Asian and Oceania Olympic Qualification Match in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, late Saturday night and provides the Philippines one other wager for a second gold medal within the Video games.

“Profitable a medal within the Olympics could be very troublesome, nevertheless it’s not unattainable,” Catantan informed the Inquirer a day after claiming a historic Olympic seat in girls’s foil for PH fencing, revealing the mindset that has made her obtain a lot at 22 years outdated.

Catantan is the primary Filipino fencer to qualify for the Olympics since Walter Torres noticed motion within the 1992 Barcelona Video games. She’s likewise the primary Filipino girl and third total to hold the nation’s colours within the Video games after Torres and Percy Alger in Seoul in 1988.

READ: PH fencer Samantha Catantan qualifies for Paris Olympics

The Southeast Asian (SEA) Video games gold medalist in 2021 Vietnam and silver performer in 2023 Cambodia can also be the one Filipino in historical past to compete within the US NCAA beneath a scholarship from Penn State College.

“From now till the Olympics, I intend to double my efforts and ensure to indicate up at my greatest in Paris,” stated Catantan, whose journey to the glitzy vogue capital obtained sidetracked lower than a 12 months in the past by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) harm throughout the semifinals of the 2023 SEA Video games.

Eight months after surgical procedure and rehab, Catantan, beneath the steerage of Rolando Canlas Jr., returned to motion and completed tenth total within the US Nationwide Collegiate Athletic Affiliation (NCAA).

“There’s no extra ache, however I nonetheless proceed to do exercises to strengthen my left knee,” stated Catantan, who defeated the extremely favored and far taller Kazakhstani, Sofiya Aktayeva 15-14, within the finals.

Piercing ache

With the match tied at 13 after Catantan had stormed again from 12-9 down, the Filipino confirmed the strict stuff she’s made from after piercing ache stung the again of her left knee.

Catantan hobbled again to the piste after being attended to by docs, earlier than shortly lunging at Aktayeva twice, the final one rewarded by the referee after each fencers struck virtually on the identical time.

“I simply felt one thing painful behind my left knee most likely due to the knee brace,” stated Catantan.

“She actually fought for it to the tip and I’m actually completely satisfied to see her success similar to the opposite Paris-bound Filipino athletes earlier than her,” stated Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino.

“It’s surreal. It’s actually a dream come true. I labored arduous to succeed in it and now I’m right here,” stated Catantan, who turns into the twelfth Filipino after pole vaulter EJ Obiena, boxers Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, Eumir Marcial, gymnasts Carlos Yulo, Aleah Finnegan and Levi Jung-Ruivivar, weightlifters Vanessa Sarno, Elreen Ando and John Ceniza and rower Joanie Delgaco to ebook a Paris slot.

“I’ve my ultimate exams arising subsequent week, so I’ve to return to the US,” stated Cantantan, a graduating accounting main.

“For now, I simply need to take pleasure in these unforgettable moments,” she added with a smile. INQ