THE sight of fencer Samantha Catantan falling to her knees, suffering the agony of defeat in the women’s individual foil round-of-32, left Filipinos crestfallen in the Paris Olympics at the posh Grand Palais last Monday.
World No. 27 and Philippine-born Maxine Esteban, who switched federation to Ivory Coast last year, followed Catantan to the exit after losing 7-15 to France’s Pauline Ranvier in the table 32.
But true-blue Pinoy sports aficionados found new reasons to be hopeful–with guarded optimism–after witnessing Fil-Am Lee Kiefer shine in the Greatest Show on Earth.
Kiefer, 30, bagged a second straight gold medal in the individual foil via a 15-6 victory over teammate Lauren Scruggs two days ago at the same venue.
“It’s insane,” Kiefer, whose mother Teresa traces her roots to Tagum City, Davao del Norte, said. “These three years have been so short and so long at the same time. Every day it’s been a freaking battle and I have so many people to thank for helping me get here on this day, at this moment.
“It’s absolutely historical. Lauren fenced amazing this whole season and she deserves all this respect,” she added.
The right-handed Kiefer was the first American to win an Olympic foil mint when she ruled the same event in the Tokyo Games three years ago.
Another athlete with Filipino bloodline is Fil-British gymnast Jake Jarman, A Peterborough, England native, Jarman’s mother is from Cebu.
Coincidentally, Jarman, 22, looms as Carlos Yulo’s biggest hurdle in the men’s floor exercise final.
The two are good friends.
Jarman tallied 14.966 points in the qualification round to Yulo’s 14.766.
Gymnastics chief Cythia Carrion said from the French capital that Jarman is open to donning the Philippines’ colors in the future–a path opposite what Esteban and world No. 6 golfer Yuka Saso, now playing for Japan, had taken.
Will Kiefer and Jarman make the switch? Don’t bet on it.
