The call of the sea was a plot twist for 26-year-old Joanie Delgaco, one that led her to the Olympics via rowing.
The call of the sea was a plot twist for 26-year-old Joanie Delgaco, one that led her to the Olympics via rowing.
Before finding her true calling in the rhythmic pull of the oar, a younger Joanie was passionate about volleyball.
“Actually po talaga, volleyball po talaga ‘yong sports ko dati,” Joanie shared with One Sports.
Much like the sea, the world of sports is unpredictable.
[Related: Filipina rower Joanie Delgaco excited to make name for herself in Paris 2024]
Sometimes, the wind blows in a different direction to steer the sails. For Joanie, the turning point came when one of the assistant coaches on their local volleyball team was looking for a tall recruit, and Delgaco was scouted for the women's rowing team.
“‘Yong isang assistant coach po kasi namin, taga-Bicol siya, naghahanap siya ng babaeng matangkad, na-scout niya po ako,” Joanie recalled.
“Tapos ‘yon po, pinagta-try niya po akong mag-try out sa rowing po.”
Shifting from volleyball to rowing feels like a well-written script, but Joanie’s journey to the Olympics was anything but smooth sailing.
She faced a wave of challenges, the main one being the pain of being far from home and sacrificing six months of her life to dedicate herself to arduous training in the Philippine Navy.
But with the Olympic dream realized, it was a sacrifice she was more than willing to take.
“Sa magkakapatid po, ako lang po talaga ‘yong nag-pursigi na mabago po talaga ‘yong buhay namin. Sinacrifice ko rin po ‘yong training ko sa Philippine Navy for six months para sa qualifications dito sa Olympics.”
In what should be an ultra-competitive field at the Olympics, victory is never a guarantee.
But for Joanie, the beauty is in the journey. Trading her initial passion for volleyball for the promise of national team glory in rowing, Delgaco found her path to Paris in 2024.
In the Women’s Single Sculls, Joanie finished 4th overall in the 2,000-meter event of the 2024 World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Olympic Qualification Regatta in Chungju, South Korea, guaranteeing her position in the top five and her coveted ticket to Paris.
Thus making her the first Filipina rower at the Olympics.
“Sobrang proud ko po kasi first Olympic rower po ako na babae [galing sa Pilipinas].History po talaga na ako po talaga mismo ‘yong nakapasok sa Olympics.”
[Related: IN PHOTOS: Filipina Rower Joanie Delgaco gets right into business in preparing for the Olympic Games]
But before setting sail in the Olympics, the her-story maker makes sure to carry a message for her 17-year-old self, Joanie, who first loved volleyball.
“Laban lang, alam kong pinag-ensayuhan mo ito ng ilang taon. Nandito ka na. Nakatungtong ka na sa Olympics. Lahat ng makakaya mo, ibigay mo sa laro talaga.”
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Story Summary:
- Joanie Delgaco's journey from volleyball enthusiast to the Olympics through rowing highlights the unpredictability of her sports career.
- Overcoming challenges and sacrifices, including rigorous training in the Philippine Navy, Joanie secured her spot as the first Filipina rower to qualify at the Olympics.
- Joanie’s inspiring story reflects determination and resilience in pursuing dreams against all odds, sending a powerful message of perseverance to other aspiring athletes.
[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital team. The summary was generated by AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]