ROWER Cris Nievarez, who won a Southeast Asian Games gold medal two years ago, has emerged as the country’s eighth qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics set to start on July 23.
Nievarez, 21, was given an Olympic slot by the World Rowing Association, less than a week after the country’s top singles sculls rower finished ninth overall in the World Rowing Asia-Oceania Olympic qualification regatta in Tokyo.
In a letter dated May 9, WRA Executive Director Matt Smith informed Philippine Rowing Association President John Patrick “Pato” Gregorio of the good news in a correspondence that the PRA received yesterday.
“I would like to congratulate your rowing team on its results in the Asia & Oceania Olympic Continental Qualification Regatta for the Tokyo Olympic Games in the following event: Men’s Singles Sculls (M1x),” Smith wrote.
Smith also reminded the PRA that it should formally inform the world rowing body through the Philippine Olympic Committee that it would be using its allotted slot (for Nievarez) by May 28 “and send this crew to Tokyo.”
National rowing coach Ed Maerina said the rowers who were ranked above Nievarez after the Tokyo qualifiers had made the Olympic grade through other competitions or events “so technically Cris had gone up to No. 4 in his rankings after the Tokyo qualifiers,” based on the world rowing body’s Olympic qualification. The top five in the Tokyo qualifiers automatically made the grade.
“Di ko po mapaliwanag ang kaligayahan ko. Noong una hindi ko pa gusto mag-celebrate kahit sinabi na nga mga coaches ko na may malaking pag-asa akong mag-qualify sa Tokyo.
Nagulat na lang kami ng makatangap ng letter na gayon na nga,” said Nievarez, who joined the national squad at 15.
After an absence of 21 years, the Atimonan, Quezon pride will be the first Filipino rower to represent the country in the quadrennial sports gala since Benjie Tolentino saw action in the men’s singles sculls in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Nievarez joins the distinguished ranks of pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena, gymnast Carlos Edriel Yulo, weightlifter and Rio Olympic silver medalist Hidylin Diaz and boxers Felix Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio and Irish Magno, who all have qualified for the Olympics.
“I know that Cris and the entire rowing worked hard for this. The achievement is well-deserved and the PSC will support him as much as we can in his Olympic quest,” Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Butch Ramirez said as he congratulated the latest Tokyo-bound athlete.
“We would like to salute rower Cris Nievarez in making it to the Tokyo Olympics. We hope that this will inspire and motivate our remaining Olympic hopefuls to also do their best in going all out to qualify for Tokyo,” Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.
“We expect more of our aspiring athletes to also earn their tickets to the Tokyo Games in the succeeding weeks,” he added.
“This is a historic is a historic day for Philippine rowing. After 21 long years, our 2019 SEA Games Gold Medalist, Cris Nievarez qualified for the men’s single sculls category for the Tokyo Olympics,” Gregorio enthused.
“Let this be the start of the growth of rowing in the Philippines,” Gregorio added. “This is our time. It’s time to pick up that oar and learn to row.”
