The Philippines’ hundred years of Olympic campaign

The Philippines marks a momentous milestone as the nation returns on this year’s Paris Olympic stage, celebrating its centennial year of debuting in the world’s biggest sporting event in the French capital.

It was 1924 when the first Filipino athlete stepped into the Olympics arena and waved the Philippine flag in Paris. A century later, a larger and stronger Filipino contingent returned to the French capital to raise the nation’s flag on the world stage once again.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Philippines’ participation in the Olympics, we take a look back on the Top 10 fascinating facts on the colorful history of the country’s Olympic campaign.
 

10. The Philippines has competed in every edition of the Summer Games since its debut in 1924, except for one.

The Philippines has competed in every edition of the Games except for the 1980 Summer Olympics where the Philippines joined the United States and a number of its allies in boycotting the games hosted by Moscow. The move was in protest of the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

9. The largest number of Philippine delegates registered was 53 in 1972.

Twenty-two athletes of the Team Philippines delegation will compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Despite being larger in number than the previous 2020 Tokyo Games, the largest delegation of Team Philippines ever recorded was 53 during the 1972 Germany Olympics and unfortunately, came home empty-handed.

8. The Philippines qualified seven times in basketball.

The Philippines has qualified seven times in the country’s most popular sport of basketball, the last in 1972 Munich Olympics.

The Philippines has made the quarterfinals of the Olympics twice, placing fifth in the 1936 Berlin, still the best finish by any Asian team in the Olympics, and seventh in 1956 Melbourne, also the second-best record in the continent.

7. Boxing as the richest source of Olympians for the Philippines.

Boxing has been the most productive sport for the Philippines as it has delivered eight medals for the country.  

Four silvers came courtesy of featherweight Anthony Villanueva in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, light flyweight Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco in the 1996 Atlanta Games, featherweight Nesthy Petecio in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she is also the first Filipina boxer to win an Olympic medal in boxing, and flyweight Carlo Paalam (2020 Tokyo).

Four bronze medals were garnered by Anthony’s father Jose Villanueva (1932 Los Angeles), light flyweight Leopoldi Serants (1988 Seoul), Onyok’s older brother Roel Velasco (1992 Barcelona), and middleweight Eumir Marcial in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

6. Filipina athletes who graced the Philippine flag in the Olympics.

The first time Filipina athletes represented the Philippines in the Olympics was in the 1956 Summer Games in Melbourne, Australia. Four women graced the country with hurdlers Manolita Cinco and Francisca Sanopal joined the athletics competition, while Gertrudez Lozada (100m freestyle, 400m freestyle) and Jocelyn Von Giese (100m backstroke) saw action in swimming.

5. Largest medal haul in Philippine Olympic history.

The year 2021 was a landmark year for Philippine sports, with the country bringing home a record-breaking four medals, the largest haul in its history.

Besides Hidilyn Diaz’s gold, silver medals were won by boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, and Eumir Marcial claimed a bronze. Currently, the Philippines has 14 Olympic medals on its chest.

4. First Filipino Olympic medalist.

Teofilo Yldefonso earned the Philippines’ first Olympic medal when he won bronze in swimming in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics. He was also the first Southeast Asian to win in the Olympics.

Born in Piddig, Ilocos Norte, Yldefonso was hailed as the “Father of the Modern Breaststroke” for his distinctive swimming technique.

3. First silver Olympic medalist.

The first silver medal in the Philippines’ Olympic history was won by boxer Anthony N. Villanueva in the featherweight category of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

2. First Olympic gold medalist.

It was in Tokyo where the Philippines clinched its historic first-ever gold medal.

Hidilyn Diaz dominated the women’s 55 kilogram class in the 2020 Tokyo Games by lifting 97 kg in the snatch and an Olympic record 127 kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 224 kg, also an Olympic record.

1. First Filipino athlete to represent the Philippines in the Olympic stage.

The Philippines shall never forget David Nepomuceno.

The sprinter from Albay was the country’s first and sole delegate to represent the nation on its debut in the 1924 Paris Olympics. He competed in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, but he failed to secure a medal.

The Philippines’ 22-man delegation is all set to bring pride and glory to the country in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Gymnast Carlos Yulo, boxer Eumir Marcial and rower Joanie Delgaco will open the Philippine campaign in the Summer Games on July 27.