At A Glance
- Fencer Samantha Catantan is expected to show her deadly form when she plunges into action in the 2024 Paris Olympics later this month.
Fencer Samantha Catantan is expected to show her deadly form when she plunges into action in the 2024 Paris Olympics later this month.

Fresh from her training in Venice, Italy, the 22-year-old Catantan got reunited with her long-time mentor Roland “Amat” Canlas in Metz, France where they are currently preparing for the nearing Games in the French capital.
According to Canlas, they are doing well and stressed that Catantan is at 100 percent right now.
“Okay naman [kami]. [Nag] morning [and] afternoon [training] kami,” Canlas wrote in a brief message via Messenger to Manila Bulletin Wednesday, July 17.
“100 [percent] na [si Sam],” he added.
A former UAAP standout, Catantan is now representing Pennsylvania State U under the tutelage of renowned fencing coach and Sydney Olympics bronze winner Matteo Zennaro.
The Southeast Asian Games multi-medalist will open her campaign in the women’s individual foil on July 28, Sunday, where she must overcome her fellow Continental qualifiers before she can enter the 32-fencer main draw.
“Lagi po naming ibibigay namin ang best namin to perform at the highest level, syempre mataas ang expectation ko sa sarili ko and at the same time din alam kong hindi lang po ako ang nagtatrabaho,” said Catantan in a PSA Forum last May.
“Alam ko po na ang ibang fencers from different countries have been working hard not just this year but after Tokyo (Olympics) grabe na po ang training na pinagdaanan nila,” she added.