Joanie Delgaco will wrap up her first Olympic stint on Friday, August 2 in the Finals D of the women’s singles sculls event of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Joanie Delgaco is already setting her sights on a possible return to the Olympics stage this early.
“Babalik po ako sa susunod [na Olympics],” the first Filipina Olympic rower said in the aftermath of her fifth-place finish in the semifinals C/D of Paris 2024 women's single sculls earlier.
The 26-year-old Filipina started strong, maintaining third place through the first 500 meters but eventually ran out of steam. But in the final stretch of the match, she powered through and overtook the last placer Fatemeh Mojallaltopraghghale of Iran.
She clocked in at 8:00.18 seconds as Serbia’s Jovana Arsic, who had a time of 7:44.60, punched a ticket to the final C alongside Slovenia’s Nina Kostanjsek (7:48.86) and Brazil’s Beatriz Cunha Tavares Cardoso (7:49.96).
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Delgaco bared that the sudden change in wind current made a difference as she could not sustain a fast opening.
“First 750 meters, nasa harap yugn hangin. Tailwind siya. Papasok ng 1000 meters, umiba yung hangin. Lumikod po yung hangin, mas bumigat po.”
But Delgaco is in high spirits after the race, with no regrets in her latest performance.
“Sobrang saya ko kanina kasi kahit hind na humabol sa medal tally, hindi pa rin po ako nagsisi kasi alam ko sa sarili ko na ginawa ko yung best ko,” Joanie bared.
She also looks forward to identifying her limitations so far that she will work on in returning to the country.
“Siguro po paghahandaan ko pa siya. Nakita ko talaga kung hanggang saan pa ako ngayon.“
“Mas pagiigihan ko pa pagbalik sa Pilipinas ‘yung magiging training.”
In the Finals D, ranks 19 to 24 will be determined.