While athletes from around the world have arrived in their respective countries in style and receiving adulation, 10 of the 11 Filipino athletes who saw action in the 2012 London Olympics reached Manila on a rainy Tuesday night, tired from a grueling 16-hour flight and heart-broken after yet another fruitless performance.
“Thank you so much and I’m sorry,” Tomohiko Hoshina, RP Team’s lone bet in judo, said as he made his way toward the arrival area of NAIA Terminal 1.
Hoshina, who surrendered to world bronze medalist Kim Sung-Min of South Korea in their Round of 32 match, was among the small Filipino delegation that also included Maristella Torres and Rene Herrera of athletics, Jessie Lacuna and Jasmine Alkhaldi of swimming, Mark Javier and Rachelle Anne Cabral of archery, Brian del Rosario of shooting, Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting and Mark Anthony Barriga of boxing.
Filipino-American rider Daniel Caluag of cycling was also part of the team, but he went straight to United States to rest his weary body and train further, probably for a shot at glory in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
So, now it’s now back to the drawing board for the athletes — and their officials, as well.
“The government should take the lead and start in the grassroots level,” said chief of mission Manny Lopez. “It has to be school-based. The schools should incorporate it with their curriculum. If possible, Filipinos should concentrate on events where height is not a factor.”
“Remember: Success in sports doesn’t happen overnight.”