Pinoy athletes flex muscles in quarantine

MANILA, Philippines — While observing quarantine amid the coronavirus crisis, Tokyo Olympics-bound athletes are making sure they stay fit during the hiatus.

Female boxer Irish Magno said she regularly works out at the boarding house where she’s staying in Baguio City, and makes sure she watches her weight, too.

“Nagpapapawis ako. Kung ano ang pwede kong magawa dito, ginagawa ko morning and afternoon,” Magno said in an interview on Radyo 5’s Power and Play program over the weekend.

“Tuloy-tuloy. Hindi ako nag-stop para hindi rin po mawala yung endurance para once bumalik na kaming lahat (national boxers) sa actual training, hindi po ako mawawala,” she said.

At the same time, the Ilongga ace is careful not to go beyond her fighting weight of flyweight.

“Disiplina lang po sa pagkain. Kailangang ma-maintain ang timbang para hindi rin mahirapan kapag malapit na,” she said.

Magno is the lone female athlete in the Philippine Olympic Team so far, joining gymnast Caloy Yulo, pole-vaulter EJ Obiena and fellow boxer Eumir Felix Marcial.

Like Magno, the other Olympians are working out in their respective quarantine bases.

Italy-based Obiena posted a video of himself and Olympic champion and record-holder Thiago Braz da Silva taking the “Living Room Cup” challenge of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

The duo, who train under famed coach Vitaly Petrov in Formia, took the cue from Ronaldo and did as many toe touches as they could in 45 seconds.

Japan-based Yulo, in a Facebook video posted by his Japanese mentor Munehiro Kugimiya, does conditioning sessions at his Tokyo home.

Following the one-year delay of the Tokyo Olympics, Filipino qualifiers can find extra time to prepare for the July 23-Aug. 8, 2021 Games.

“Malaking bagay na na-postponed (Olympics) kasi at least mas mahaba-haba yung preparation namin at mapag-aaralan pa namin ang gagawin namin,” said Magno.