Speaker Romualdez fetes PH fencer
Paris Olympics qualifier Samantha Catantan will continue seeking rehabilitation and therapy on her injured left knee once she returns to Manila from the United States in the next two weeks.
Commended by House Speaker Martin Romualdez for her heroism of clinching a Paris berth on one good leg, the world no. 185-ranked Catantan is headed back to the United States for her studies and academic tests during the finals’ exam week at Penn State University.
Catantan, a fourth year student-athlete taking up accounting, said this will be her priority before she heads for Manila.
The 27-year-old Catantan is slated to get her final clearance from doctors while in Manila, before heading for Paris to compete in the quadrennial meet.
“It’s been 10 months since I had surgery. Hindi pa talaga cleared. Wala pang final test, rehab test,” said Catantan, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament on her left knee during the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games 11 months ago.
Catantan earned a berth in the Paris Games, when she won the women’s foil gold medal during the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier on in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates last Saturday.
Catantan was also recently feted by Romualdez.
“Considering Samantha wasn’t even born when the last Filipino fencer competed in the Olympics, her journey to the games is nothing short of legendary. This is a joyous milestone for her, her family, and the entire country. Samantha, you are more than an athlete; you are an inspiration,” said Romualdez.
Her good fortunes came after she endured a close encounter with Kazakhstan’s Sofiya Akatyeva, 15-14, and with her injury already taking its toll on her during the final moments of the match.
“I’m allowed to fence. But I needed to wear a brace for safety,” added Catantan, who is coached by long time mentor Rolando “Amatov” Canlas.
Once she’s done with her exams, Catantan will head to Manila, to be with her family.
From there, she will prepare to go the Metz’ training camp, which will be a monthlong activity before she and longtime coach Rolando “Amatov” Canlas head to the Olympics at the end of July.
She looks forward to competing side-by-side with the world’s top foil fencer Lee Kiefer, a Fil-American who won the gold in the Tokyo Olympics.
Catantan also looks forward to the possibility of facing former teammate Maxine Esteban in the women’s fencing meet of Paris Games.
Esteban, ranked no. 36 in the world, will see action with Cote D’Ivoire.