‘Mga taong naghubog sa pangarap ko’: Petecio honors past Olympians


At a glance

  • Two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio made sure to pay tribute to the heroes of the past who paved the way to the success that Philippine Sport is relishing in the present time.


Two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio made sure to pay tribute to the heroes of the past who paved the way to the success that Philippine Sport is relishing in the present time.

JCM_4732.JPG
 

The recipient of the President’s award along with fellow Paris Olympics bronze medalist Aira Villegas during the annual Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night on Monday, Jan 27 at the Manila Hotel, Petecio gave her flowers to the past Olympians who were also honored during the event, in celebration of the country’s 100-year participation in the quadrennial meet.

“Sa mga veteran po pala na mga Olympians habang tinitingnan ko po kayo dito kanina, sabi ko sa sarili ko, ito yung mga taong naghubog sa pangarap ko, “ said the ever bubbly Filipina pugilist during her acceptance speech. (“To all the Olympic veterans, I looked up to all of you and told myself that you were the people who helped me hone my dreams.”)

“Ito yung mga taong bumuo sa pangarap ko na maging Olympian,” she added. (“These are the people who completed my dreams of becoming an Olympian.”)

Petecio was just thankful to the past Olympians for inspiring her to become what she is today, even sharing that she, herself, was honed under the hands of former Olympian, a bronze medalist at that, in her former coach Roel Velasco.

Velasco, like Petecio and Villegas, once brought honor to the country with a bronze medal in the light flyweight division in 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

“Most especially kay coach Roel. Gusto ko lang po i-share, when I was 15, si coach Roel po ang first coach ko sa national team. Grabe yung wisdom na shinare ni coach Roel sa akin, ang pagiging Olympian nya, kung paano nya nakuha iyon,” recalled Petecio. (“Coach Roel was my first coach with the national team. I gained a lot of wisdom from his experiences as an Olympian.”)

According to Petecio, it was Velasco who instilled her foundations as an athlete – which to this day, even after winning a silver in 2020 Tokyo Games and a bronze in the 2024 Paris Games – remained the pillar of her values.

“Lagi nya sinasabi sa akin ‘STDDD’ – Sipag, Tiyaga, Determinasyon Disiplina at Dasal – at hanggang ngayon dala dala ko po iyon. ‘Yung motto niya na walang hinto hanggang walang ginto kay coach Roel Velasco po iyon,” said Petecio.

“Also kay coach Lito Velasco din na kasama ko nakuha ang silver sa Tokyo po. Sila Velasco brothers ang gumabay sa akin para makapag uwi ng medalya,” she added.

Petecio has her eyes set on the elusive gold as she intends to continue representing the county in the 2028 LA Olympics.