Romasanta: They’re all confident, fired-up
RIO DE JANEIRO – The chef- de- mission of the Philippine contingent to the Rio Olympics called the bunch of athletes who are here to represent the country as “The Dauntless 13.”
The 13 qualified athletes, in the eyes of Jose Romasanta, have one thing in common: they are confident, determined, undaunted.
“There’s not one athlete in this delegation that has shown that worried look on his or her face,” observed the Filipino official.
“They are willing to take on anybody,” he said.
From boxing to weightlifting, taekwondo to table tennis, athletics to swimming, and golf, the Filipino athletes are here to give their best in their respective disciplines.
“They are here to do that. They are here to do their best,” said the chef-de-mission, trying very hard to keep his eyes on the athletes every step of the way.
“That’s what President Duterte told them,” said Romasanta.
Taekwondo’s Kirstie Elaine Alora is scheduled to face 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medalist Maria Espinoza of Mexico in her first match.
But instead of being cowed and intimidated, Alora is taking it as a challenge.
“I’m ready for her,” said the taekwondo jin.
Table tennis’ Ian Lariba, who is ranked No. 297 in the world, might face the No. 80 ranked Adriana Diaz of Puerto Rico in her Olympic debut on Aug. 6.
Like Alora, the 21-year-old Lariba said she’s ready.
“I’ve seen her play. We are studying her moves,” said Lariba, who added that there still could be a change in her opening-round assignment. But she’s not counting on it. According to Romasanta, that’s the kind of spirit any athlete should bring to the Olympics, a gathering of the world’s best.
“It’s the determination to win,” said Romasanta.
The luck of the draw is no longer that important, the POC official said, because the athletes are all fired-up and ready to take on anybody thrown in front of them.
“It’s a minor plus. But with the determination of our athletes, the luck of the draw is no longer material. We don’t need to worry about something we don’t have control of,” he said.
“You cannot ask anything more from our athletes. They are exuding with confidence. They are all looking forward. Patay kung patay na (Do or die),” he added.
The Philippines has not won an Olympic medal in 20 years, not since boxer Mansueto Velasco bagged the silver in 1996 in Atlanta.
It’s been a long while, waiting for a medal – of any color.
The Filipino athletes trained long and hard for this campaign, almost circling the globe trying to qualify for this Olympics, and getting ready to compete.
“With the training, exposure and experience of our athletes, there’s nothing more left to be done but compete,” said Romasanta.
Again, he picked up from President Duterte’s message to the athletes.
“Not everybody is given the opportunity to do something for our country. Our athletes are grabbing that opportunity,” he said.
These are the “Dauntless 13.”