While ONE Warrior Series rising star Jerry “Bokodian Warrior” Olsim waits for another go in ONE Championship, he is using his time wisely.
Olsim will join ONE Atomweight star Gina “Conviction” Iniong and Team Lakay head coach Mark Sangiao on the eight-man kickboxing national team that will compete in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games from 30 November to 11 December.
This will be Olsim’s first time competing in the biennial meet and the 24-year-old Bokod, Benguet native promises to make the best out of it.
“I’m really excited, and I’m ready to compete in the SEA Games. I’ve worked extremely hard because I want to take home a gold medal for the Philippines. This is the first time I’m representing the country so expect nothing but the best from me,” Olsim said.
“I know there will not be an easy way to the gold, but I believe we’ve done the necessary work to make sure we’re at our best in each fight.”
Olsim last competed in ONE Warrior Series 8 in October, dropping a decision loss to Ryoji Kudo.
Still feeling the effects of the loss, Olsim sees the opportunity to represent the country as the perfect way to recover.
“The SEA Games will be the start of my rise from that tough loss in Tokyo. I’ve made the necessary work in training, and I showed how determined I am to bounce back as an athlete. Whether it’s in kickboxing or MMA, my mindset is always to win and give glory to the country,” Olsim said.
“The goal now is to win the gold medal. That would put me in a much better position in my next OWS matches because I know the type of momentum that it will give me heading to 2020.”
With a couple of days to go before his road to the gold begins, Olsim promises to make a statement in his first tour of duty as a national team member.
“I won’t waste the trust that they gave me in including me on this team. I will do everything to get a gold medal and end the year positively.”For one last time this year, ONE Championship returns to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for ONE: MARK OF GREATNESS at the Axiata Arena on 6 December.