Sam Catantan's comeback win to start the Olympic Games Paris 2024 was not without some scary moments.
It’s no secret that part of Sam Catantan’s Olympic journey is her recovery from a torn ACL, an injury she suffered in 2023 during the Southeast Asian Games.
Fast forward to 2024 in the Olympic Games, it appeared that injuries would once again haunt her fight for Team Philippines.
Fencing against Brazil’s Mariana Pistoia in table 64, Catantan had to take an early injury timeout after experience discomfort in her knees.
Despite the setback, Catantan finished and won the match, scoring the last three points to complete a 15-13 comeback win.
“So ngayon po I’m fencing with a knee brace, recovering from the ACL injury. I heard something pop sa tuhod ko,” she said after the match.
“Pero same yung range [of movement]… hindi po the same nung na-feel ko nung napunit yung ACL ko. Hopefully it’s not something related to my ligaments,” Catantan added.
As she debuted in Paris 2024, Catantan became the first Filipino fencer in the Olympics since Barcelona 1992.
As she won her first match, Catantan feels she fulfilled part of her responsibility to represent the Philippines, a responsibility she hopes to continue to fulfill.
“Being in this tournament, I have a huge responsibility and at the same time it’s very humbling,” she said.
“Knowing that I’m able to fence in the best way I know how, yun talaga ang goal ko sa tournament na ito. I’m happy that I was able to do that,” Catantan added.
It’s a joyful debut for Sam, but there will be no rest for the weary as she is set to take on world no. 2 Arianna Errigo of Italy next.
(With reports from Carlo Pamintuan/One Sports)