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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Filipino-Italian skier wants to guide aspiring Winter Olympians

Filipino-Italian skier wants to guide aspiring Winter Olympians

Published Jan 16, 2026 01:37 pm

At A Glance

  • After becoming the first athlete from the Philippines to qualify for his maiden appearance at the 2026 Winter Games, Filipino-Italian alpine skier Francis Ceccarelli is eyeing a bigger mission that goes beyond his Olympic stint.
(Francis Ceccarelli Facebook post)
(Francis Ceccarelli Facebook post)
After becoming the first athlete from the Philippines to qualify for his maiden appearance at the 2026 Winter Games, Filipino-Italian alpine skier Francis Ceccarelli is eyeing a bigger mission that goes beyond his Olympic stint.
Aside from earning a quota place in the quadrennial meet, the 22-year-old Ceccarelli wants to become part of the training program for the aspiring athletes who wish to become like him in the future.
“My goal is to compete and do at least one more Olympics,” Ceccareli told Manila Bulletin.
“After which I would like the Philippine National Team to give me honor to train the young Filipino boys and take them to do important events such as the Olympics,” he added.
It is a decision that served as a testament to Ceccarelli’s attitude toward his identity.
“In life personally I don't have to balance any identity,” Ceccarelli continued. “Being born in the Philippines in my blood I clearly feel like a Pinoy and when it comes to skiing I feel both Filipino and Abetonese.”
“I would like to say for young Filipinos to believe in their dreams and even if sometimes it is difficult to fight in dark times,” he added.
Ceccarelli, who currently lives in Abetone in Italy’s central region Tuscany, booked his ticket in his first-ever Games after earning a quota spot thanks to his splendid performances in several International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) tournaments.
That feat made him the fifth Filipino skier to vie in the quadrennial meet, following the footsteps of Juan Cipriano (1972 Sapporo), Raymond Ocampo (1988 Calgary), Michael Teruel (1992 Albertville), and Asa Miller (2018 PyeongChang and 2022 Beijing).
“Competing for my country is giving me many opportunities as well as important events,” said Ceccarelli, who was born in Quezon City before moving to Italy when he was eight.
“Also in the future a national job, the availability to participate in these events only creates motivation and desire to do,” he added.
Representing the country since 2023, Ceccarelli, mentored by Stefano Barattero, has worked tirelessly to hone his technical skills as well as his physical and mental health, which, he said, could help him well for the slalom and giant slalom events of the Games slated Feb. 6 to 22 in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
“I believe that success is being present at a worldwide competition as well as internationally, then if the ‘success’ should come I welcome it with open arms,” he concluded. “But right now I enjoy the success of being present at this mega event that I dreamed of so much.
According to Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation (PSSF) president Jim Apelar, Ceccarelli will be joined by Tallulah Proulx, the first and youngest Filipina Winter Olympian who qualified in giant slalom, which was confirmed by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS).
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