Job well done in Paris

PARIS — Au revoir! À la prochaine!

Team Philippines bade goodbye to the 2024 Olympics – the Paris Games which were days of days and moments of moments for Philippine sports with a solid 2-0-2 gold-silver-bronze haul from a P100-million war chest from the government.

Gymnastics double-gold winner Carlos Yulo and boxing bronze winner Aira Villegas were to lead the makeup of the Philippine team in the closing parade at Stade de France Sunday night.

It’s a grand celebration for humanity, for the whole world and for our island nation of 120 million in the Pacific in reaching new heights on its very centennial year of participation in the quadrennial Games. It turned out a golden 10th decade in the greatest show on earth.

Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Hergie Bacyadan, Eumir Marcial, Lauren Hoffman, John Ceniza, Elreen Ann Ando and Vanessa Sarno were also listed to represent Team Philippines in the closing rites after a historic salvo propelling the country to No. 35 in the medal table.

China (39-27-24) and the USA (38-42-42) finished in a dead heat, with Australia (18-18-14), Japan (18-12-13) and host France (16-24-22) comprising the Top 5.

The Philippines posted its strongest show in the medal race in 56 long years – No. 7 among Asian countries behind China, Japan, Korea, Uzbekistan, Iran and Chinese Taipei.

Halfway through the fortnight of sporting battles in the French capital, the Philippines even stood inside the Top 20. Team Philippines’ medal drive conked out towards the end but it didn’t take away the sheen and luster of the team’s bright days in the French capital.

“We’re the best performer in Southeast Asia and No. 7 in Asia,” Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.

The Philippines was No. 1 among countries competing in the SEA Games with its closest pursuer Indonesia also winning two gold medals but only had a bronze in badminton. Kazakhstan, an Asian Games powerhouse, surprisingly only has one gold medal in judo.

“We’ve gone quality in Paris – in gymnastics, a blue-chip sport,” Tolentino said. “And looking at the SEA Games countries, we outperformed our closest neighbors.”

“The Paris Olympics has officially ended and we