Olympic gold still elusive for Philippines

CEBU, Philippines - The just concluded Rio Olympics in the former Brazilian capital of Rio de Janiero saw a couple of countries from three continents basking in the glow of their first ever Olympic gold medals.

Fiji, a tiny island country in South Pacific inhabited by less than a million people, burst into the spotlight of “The Greatest Show on Earth” after a landmark gold in rugby sevens where the gallant Fijians vanquished the mighty Great Britain.

Puerto Rico, another island nation in the Carribean, also erupted in celebration after its breakthrough gold delivered by Monica Puig, who defeated the heavily favored German Angelique Kerber 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 in the women’s tennis singles final.

Southeast Asian nations also have had their slice of history in the quadrennial sports conclave that gathers the best athletes on the planet.

Kosovo, a war-torn nation with only an eight-man contingent, snared its first ever medal – and gold at that, thanks to Majlinda Kelmendi’s triumph over Italian Odette Giuffrida in the 52 kg. women’s judo.

Singapore, an island city-state of only five million people, savored the sweet taste of Olympic gold for the first time behind swimming hero Joseph Schooling, who stunned US legend Michael Phelps in the 100m butterfly.

Vietnam, who joined in the Olympics more than 60 years ago, has also won its first gold medal courtesy of army colonel Hoang Xuan Vinh, who courageously stood his ground against tough rivals from host Brazil and China to lord it over the men’s 10-meter air pistol competition.

Unfortunately, such wasn’t the case for the Philippines, which until now holds the unwanted tag as one of the only two sporting powers in the Southeast Asian region without an Olympic gold. The other is Malaysia.

Since it first plunged into Olympic action with only one athlete in sprinter David Nepomuceno in the 1924 Paris Games, Phl keeps on chasing after that elusive gold.

In its all-time Olympic showing, Phl is good for only three silvers, the most latest was produced by Pinay lifter Hidilyn Diaz in Rio, and seven bronzes. Its best ever finish was in the 1932 Los Angeles Games when it snared three bronze medals from trackster Simeon Toribio (high jump), swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso (men’s 200m breaststroke) and boxer Jose Villanueva (bantamweight).

Featherweight boxer Anthony Villanueva nearly had it for the Philippines in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He advanced to the final round but lost by controversial 3-2 decision to Soviet boxer Stanislav Stepashkin.

Thirty-two years later in Atlanta, Georgia, light flyweight boxer Mansueto ‘Onyok’ Velasco almost brought the entire Filipino nation into seventh heaven with his courageously display of fighting skills against Bulgarian Dabiel Petrov in their gold-medal match.

Just as every Pinoy made the sign of the cross and collectively sent prayers to high heavens, the result turned the other way around in favor of the Bulgarian, 16-9, in what came to be a highly questionable decision that was another bitter pill to swallow for the gold-medal hungry Filipinos.

Since then, the Philippines failed to medal in the glitzy competition that will happen only once every four years.

Then came Diaz.

The 25-year-old Zamboangeña lifter made her country proud after winning silver in the women’s 53kg weightlifting to end the Philippines’ 20-year medal drought in the Olympics. She was the only one out of the 12 Pinoy Olympians to medal in Rio.

Though that sparkling gold remains an extremely difficult thing to achieve for now, Diaz somehow heralds a new era in Phl’s quest for history. Forgoing her planned retirement to take another gold-medal shot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics provides a glimmer of hope for her fellow countrymen, who like her, have that longing deep within their hearts to reach that seemingly impossible dream someday. (FREEMAN)