Joanie Delgaco will make the most of her Olympic debut in Paris after securing her ticket to the Games on her third try.
Sometimes, it just does not work out with one’s first love.
Such was the case for Filipina Olympian Joanie Delgaco, who wanted to be a volleyball player like superstar Alyssa Valdez for the better part of her teenage years.
Turned out, God has better plans for the 5-foot-5 former setter from Iriga, Camarines Sur.
[RELATED STORY: Filipina rower Joanie Delgaco excited to make name for herself in Paris 2024]
When an opportunity to shift to another sport came knocking years ago, Delgaco went with the flow.
While the transition from orchestrating plays to paddling oars was not smooth sailing, the decision eventually proved life-changing.
Long story short, the 26-year-old became the first Filipina rower to qualify for the Olympics after failing in 2016 and 2021.
But before she formally makes her Olympic Games Paris 2024 debut on July 27, here is a lookback on her journey:
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2022: Chasing the Olympic dream
Delgaco failed to punch a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but that did not stop her from chasing what was once an elusive dream.
She got better and better.
Come the Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, three years ago, the soft-spoken Delgaco brought home a silver and bronze mints in the single and quadruple sculls, respectively.
[RELATED STORY: Joanie’s Journey: From a passion for volleyball to realizing Olympic dream in rowing, Joanie Delgaco’s sacrifice is worth it]
2023: Asian Games disappointment
Delgaco is among the Philippine contingent that went to war in Hangzhou, China for the 2023 Asian Games.
While Delgaco made the medal round, she failed to make the podium.
[RELATED STORY: Rower Joanie Delgaco looks back on her journey to the Olympics | Paris 2024]
Before that, though, Delgaco and Edgar Ilas pocketed the gold medal in the coastal mixed double sculls event of the Asian Rowing Beach Spring Championships in Pattaya, Thailand.
2024: Delgaco kept rowing
No amount of disappointment could discourage her from chasing glory one competition after another, especially with the Olympic Games Paris 2024 fast approaching.
Then came the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Olympic Qualification Regatta in Chungju, South Korea.
Delgaco finally realized a childhood dream of representing the Philippines in the Olympics after finishing fourth in the 2000, women’s single sculls.
After that milestone, she went on to become the fastest female participant in the 5000m handicap race in the 7th Waustrooss Head of River event in Luxermbourg.
Delgaco also set a new personal record during training in the 2000m time trial, clocking in 7:23. Her previous record was 7:39.
These performances bode well for the first-time Olympian, who is eager to make a splash in the grandest stage in sports.