Paris Olympics 2024 marks a century of the Philippines’ participation at the grandest sporting stage of them all. Through the years, world-class Filipino athletes have competed in a variety of sports, and if the recent results are anything to go by, then the rest of the world better watch out for a better and more prepared Philippine team come Olympics 2028.
And with the recent conclusion of the 2024 Olympic Games, SEA Wave Pop Culture Magazine takes a look back at 100 years of Filipino excellence at the Olympics, showcasing our enduring spirit and the dedication of our Filipino athletes.
David Nepomuceno and Teofilo Yldefonso | Photos from Getty Images and Wikimedia Commons
The Philippines made its debut in the Olympic arena in 1924 with David Nepomuceno, who competed in the men’s 100-meter and 200-meter athletic events, placing 4th in the first event while placing last in the second event. While David Nepomuceno may not have brought home medals that year, his participation gave us the representation and motivation that we needed to continue aiming for the global stage, laying the foundation for future Filipino athletes to come.
And sure enough, in the following years, the Philippines would have its very own trailblazer, the first-ever Filipino and Southeast Asian athlete to win an Olympic medal—Teofilo Yldefonso. Teofilo carved his name in history by winning a bronze medal in the 200-meter breaststroke in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. Four years later, he won another bronze medal for the same event in the 1932 Los Angeles. He is also known as the “Father of the Modern Breaststroke” for bringing the breaststroke closer to the surface of the water, compared to the underwater style that was more popular back then.
Simeon Toribio, Jose Villanueva and Miguel White | Photos from LA48 Foundation, Manila Times and Wikimedia Commons
Two more Filipino athletes conquered the Olympic podium in the same year—Simeon Toribio placed third in the men’s high jump and won a bronze medal, while Jose Villanueva also won a bronze medal in the men’s bantamweight boxing event. In another four years, Miguel White would win a bronze medal for the men’s 400-meter hurdles in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany.
Anthony Villanueva, Leopoldo Serantes, Roel Velasco, Onyok Velasco | Photos from Boxrec.com, Wikimedia Commons and Spin.ph
After winning five bronze medals in three straight Olympics events, the Philippines would experience its first medal drought, which would last 28 years. Despite 128 of the best Filipino athletes being sent to the global stage from 1948 to 1960, it wasn’t until 1964 in Tokyo, Japan that the Philippine flag would be hoisted once again, with Anthony Villanueva’s historic 2nd place finish at the men’s featherweight boxing event, which also marks the country’s first-ever Olympic silver medal.
Filipinos continued to prove themselves to be heavy hitters as three more boxers bagged podium positions for the men’s light flyweight event: Leopoldo Serantes won a bronze medal in 1988 at Seoul, South Korea; Roel Velasco also won a bronze medal in 1992 at Barcelona, Spain; and Onyok Velasco won the Philippines’ second silver medal at 1996 in Atlanta, United States.
Photo from Hidilyn Diaz
After a slew of recognitions for boxing, the next Olympic medal eluded the Philippines for 20 years. It wasn’t until 2016 that we broke our second medal drought, with Hidilyn Diaz winning a silver medal for the women’s weightlifting 53 kg category in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Diaz, who had been competing in the Olympics since 2008, came back once more for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics women’s weightlifting 55 kg category, where she became the first-ever Filipino to bring home a historic gold medal for the Philippines.
Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial | Photos from AFP
The Tokyo Olympics 2020 was truly a breakthrough year for the country; aside from Diaz, three other Filipino Olympians won medals—Nesthy Petecio won a silver medal in the women’s boxing featherweight division; Carlo Paalam also won a silver medal in the men’s boxing flyweight division; and Eumir Marcial won a bronze medal in the men’s boxing middleweight division.
Now in our 100th year of joining the Olympics, our Filipino athletes have continued to break barriers and defy the odds. Two Filipina Olympians conquered the boxing ring at the Paris Olympics 2024—Nesthy Petecio made her return and won a bronze for the women’s featherweight division, while Aira Villegas also won a bronze medal for the women’s flyweight division.
And last but definitely not least, our “Golden Boy” Carlos Yulo won two historic Olympic gold medals for artistic gymnastics in the men’s floor exercise and men’s vault events. His determination and perseverance made him the first-ever Filipino Olympian to win two Olympic gold medals.
In the 100 years of joining the Olympic Games, 14 Filipino Olympians have brought home a combined 18 medals for the country. May these significant milestones and achievements continue to ignite national pride and inspire athletes to set historical goals for years to come.
Who’s your favorite Filipino Olympic medalist? Let us know in the comment section below!