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Catantan shares advice on achieving dreams, pursuing passion
The first time Olympian Filipina fencer Samantha Kyle Catantan shared her advice on how to achieve our dreams and pursue our passion.
Photo Courtesy: Rappler
In an Instagram video posted by the Philippine Consulate General in New York, the lone Philippine representative of the Fencing team in the recently concluded 2024 Paris Olympics, Catantan said: “Remember to always be patient with your dreams and never compare your timing to anyone else’s. And always remember that when you work on things with all your heart, mind and soul, you can achieve what you really want to be.”
During the Summer Games, Catantan made history by becoming the first Filipino fencer to qualify for the Olympics in 32 years. Samantha Kyle is also the first woman to do so in the country’s history.
Catantan reached the table of 32 in the women’s individual foil after defeating Brazil’s Mariana Pistoia in the first round.
She then faced the top-seeded and world No. 2 ranked Arianna Errigo of Italy where she clawed back from a 4-0 deficit and took the lead, 5-4.
The Italian prevailed in the end with a score of 15-12.
During the match, Cantantan felt something was wrong with her knee but despite the injury she made a gallant effort to battle toe-to-toe against one of the best fencers in the world.
After the match, she said that she’s already looking forward to working her way to return to the Olympics when the Summer Games will be held in Los Angeles in 2028.
Medal in Education
Sam might not be able to win a medal in the Paris Olympics but she became victorious when she graduated Accountancy at Pennsylvania University.
Cantantan said she’s proud to be ‘Pinay’ and will forever be an Olympian. Sam also said that she can’t believe the kind of success she’s experiencing right now. And that she will never forget this season of her life.
“Forever proud Pinay, forever an Olympian. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala kung paano ito naging posible sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon. Ito ay isang karanasang hindi ko makakalimutan sa buong buhay ko.”
The 22-year old fencer might have gone far already with her young career but there’s more in store for the Olympian who once dreamed to be in the grandest stage and pursue her passion.
What’s next for Catantan?
Catantan is eager to make it back to the Olympics that’s why she will go under the knife this Friday, August 16 to address her ACL injury.
The Filipina said that she actually had a full ACL tear already on her left knee (the same knee she injured last year) when she faced Pistoia in the first round of the foil event.
During Tuesday's victory party for the Olympians at the Hilton Manila, Catantan said in an interview, “Actually, I am not sure if you know, when I was facing the Brazilian, I retore my ACL. So I finished the match with a torn ACL and continued my second match with the injury. Actually, right now, I’m taking my time to have fun because on Friday, I will have my surgery. And it’s gonna be a challenge for the next few months for me.”
After her surgery, Catantan will focus on three things: recover from her injury, return to Penn State for her post-graduate studies, and prepare for the LA Olympics.
Another inspiration to Filipinos is Sam’s Olympic debut success. She might not finish in the podium but her world ranking jumped up from the previous 266th to being the 87th among the world’s fencers.
With the four-year countdown to LA just beginning, Sam’s future as part of the Philippine team remains bright.
How she carves her own path to the next Olympics is up to her - and the hope is, that Sam - and other Filipino fencers and athletes - can get every ounce of support they need to better represent the Philippines in the grandest sporting stage of them all.
