he ending was not picture-perfect but nothing can dim the luster of the gold medal won by gymnast Carlos Yulo and the bronze medals produced by boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas. PARIS – The ending was not picture-perfect but nothing can dim the luster of the gold medal won by gymnast Carlos Yulo and the bronze medals produced by boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas. And that has made the country’s performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics the best ever since taking part in the grandest show on earth exactly 100 years ago – coincidentally in this lovely French capital.
There were distractions and controversies heading to the end of the 17-day battle for supreme athleticism but that can’t overshadow the heroics of the three medalists and 19 other Filipinos who fought ferociously to the very end despite great odds. The country bagged only four medals in 329 events of 32 sports calendared for this year’s edition, but those were enough to surpass the 1-gold, 2-silver and 1 bronze medals shown by the country in the Covid-delayed 2021 Tokyo Games. Overall, Team Philippines finished No.
35 in the medal race held in the city for the third time, but emerged the best performer among Southeast Asian nations, edging Indonesia which collected 2 golds and a bronze, and Thailand with 1 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze medals. For Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, the country’s successful campaign here is a tough act to follow. “That’s wh.