The first ever Filipina rower in the Olympics, Joanie Delgaco bows out of this year’s games. She finished last in quarterfinal 3, wrapping up her journey with a time of seven minutes and fifty-eight point three seconds.
Joanie Delgaco is a twenty-six-year-old Filipina. She is the first Filipina rower to represent the Philippines in the Olympic event. In Heat 2 on Saturday, she placed fourth. However, she was relegated to the repechage.
Also Read: Simone Biles Makes Long-Awaited Return to the 2024 Paris Olympics
During this race, she chased world champions Karolien Florjin of the Netherlands and Aurelia-Maxima Janzen of Switzerland. However, she was overtaken by Slovenia’s Nina Kostanjsek.
Before her quarterfinal stint, Philippine Rowing Association President Patrick Gregorio shared in a statement, “We have confidence in Joanie’s ability to secure this positioning. But as always, implore her to stay focused, calm, and give her very best in any race no matter the competitor.”
The Filipina rower finished sixth in the quarterfinals of the women’s singles sculls. Joanie is now relegated to the semifinals C/D. During the quarterfinal three race, New Zealand led the scoreboard. Emma Twigg finished with seven minutes and twenty-six point eighty-nine seconds.
Twigg currently holds the Olympic record with seven minutes and thirteen point ninety-seven times during the Tokyo Summer Games.
In the semifinals C/D, Joanie will race for the Top 24 in rowing. Before the race, Gregorio shared that Joanie told him, “Yes po. Laban po sa quarterfinals, at babalik tayo sa Olympics sa 2028.”
Switzerland followed in the Olympics rowing race with Janzen Aurelia-Maxima Katharina. Spain’s Virginia Diaz Rivas placed third.
Also Read: Aira Villegas beats Moroccan foe to Advance in Olympics Boxing Event
For the quarterfinal 1 race, Australia’s Tara Rigney placed first. Other athletes proceeding to the semis include USA’s Kara Kohler and Bulgaria’s Desislava Angelova.
In quarterfinal 2, Netherlands’ Karolien Florjin takes the lead. Germany’s Alexandra Foester and Belarus’ Tatsiana Klimovich join her.
Wrapping up the semis roster, quarterfinal 4 finalists include Lithuania’s Viktorija Senkute, Uzbekistan’s Anna Prakaten, and Austria’s Magdalena Lobnig.
Definitely, Joanie Delgaco has achieved so much in her Olympic stint. Aside from being the first Filipina in the event, she competed against athletes with much faster times. However, despite all that she still came this far.
Keep Reading: Rica Peralejo Calls Out Christians for Viral Olympics Opening
Leave a Reply