Finding a skate park to train in Cebu has been a struggle for Tokyo Olympics-bound Margielyn Didal, who recently returned to the Philippines.
Didal talked about her ongoing preparations for the quadrennial meet in a Zoom meeting with scribes on Saturday, together with her coach Daniel Bautista.
The 22-year-old Didal has gone back to training with the Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association of the Philippines, Inc. in a custom-built training facility in Soul Sierra, Cebu.
Going into training and joining international meets to earn points that will allow her to make it to the Olympics have been a struggle for Didal.
This is because of the travel restrictions and quarantine protocols that Cebuano authorities have put up, discouraging many enthusiasts from doing tricks at many parks in the city.
Because of the pandemic, there were cancellations of many events in the country and abroad.
“Yes, nag-struggle ako to compete for the Olympics. Many events got cancelled. So we’re just in our hometown, and without a park. And I did not skate for months because of the lockdown,” added Didal, who however coped with the pandemic by taking part and winning a virtual tournament in the women’s division of the Asian Skateboarding Championships 2020 Lockdown 5 Video Competition.
Soon after, the Philippine Sports Commission, through commissioner Ramon Fernandez was among those who initially came in to help Didal look for areas where she can do her workouts.
With the help of Red Bull, Didal said it became possible for her to stay in shape and get ready for the World Street Skateboarding Championships in Rome, Italy last month.
The skatepark that Didal now trains in was funded by Red Bull, which provided additional input on the park’s structure.
The park was completed in early 2021.
Two weeks ago, Didal formally earned a qualifying slot to the Tokyo Olympics after she joined the women’s event of the World Street Skateboarding Championships in Rome, Italy.
Situated at no. 17 in the Olympic rankings, Didal made the cut after organizers struck out three Brazilians from the list, which had six skateboarders from the South American country.
Brazil’s Pamela Rosa (no. 1) and Rayssa Leal (no. 2) and Leticia Bufoni (no. 4), made the cut, but their teammates Virginia Aguas, Gabriela Mazzeto and Isabelly Dasilva did not as each member nation can only obtain a maximum of three spots in each event, with 12 maximum across the 4 events.
This same rule was applied on Japan, which has already three qualifiers in Nishimura, Funa Nakayama and Momiji Nishiya, prompting organizers to remove from the list Yumeka Oda.
Didal is the only skateboarder from Southeast Asia to make the grade.
Each event will have 20 competitors—three from the World Championships, 16 from the world rankings and one from the host, Japan.
Mariah Duran (USA) and Roos Zwetsloot (Netherlands) also made it, along with Dutch bet Candy Jacobs and Australia’s Hayley Wilson.
Other qualified athletes include Alexis Sablone (USA), Keet Oldenbeuving (Netherlands), Alana Smith (USA), China’s Wenhui Zeng, Lore Bruggeman of Belgium, Austria’s Julia Brueckler, Charlotte Hym (France), Asia Lanzi (Italy) and Biopelo Awuah.
Didal, who is no. 17 in the Olympic rankings, made the cut after three other Brazilians who were ahead of her were taken off the list.
To earn a slot to the Olympics, each member nation can obtain a maximum of 3 spots in each event, with 12 maximum across the 4 events.
Each event will have 20 competitors qualify.
And three will from the World Championships, 16 from world rankings, and 1 from the host, Japan.
Among those who made it were Brazil’s Pamela Rosa, Rayssa Leal, ranked no. 2 in the Olympic standings, is joined by no. 4 Leticia Bufoni made the cut.
Brazilians teammates Virginia Aguas, Gabriela Mazzeto and Isabelly Dasilva were taken off the list.
Since Japan already qualifier Nishimura, Funa Nakayama and Momiji Nishiya, organizers removed Yumeka Oda from the roster of qualified athletes.
Mariah Duran (USA) and Roos Zwetsloot (Netherlands) also made it, along with Dutch bet Candy Jacobs and Australia’s Hayley Wilson.
The qualified athletes also included Alexis Sablone (USA), Keet Oldenbeuving (Netherlands), Alana Smith (USA), China’s Wenhui Zeng, Lore Bruggeman of Belgium, Austria’s Julia Brueckler, Charlotte Hym (France), Asia Lanzi (Italy) and Biopelo Awuah.
