Quality not quantity

Since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the Philippines has not sent a delegation of more than 19 to the Summer Games. The Sydney contingent of 20 included four boxers and four taekwondo jins. None came home with a medal. POC president Mayor Bambol Tolentino recently said he’s hoping for a delegation of about 25 athletes in Paris and it will be the largest in 28 years.

The adage of “the more, the merrier” may not necessarily apply to sports. Theoretically, a country that sends a large delegation has more chances to land a podium finish because of sheer numbers. But in the Olympics, it’s quality that counts, not quantity.

The Philippines has participated in 22 Olympics since 1924 in Paris so this year’s edition will mark the country’s 100th anniversary back to where it began. Of the 22 Olympics, the Philippines failed to bag a medal in 13 so the batting rate is 41 percent. The largest Philippine delegation was 53 in 1972 and came home empty-handed.

The Philippines’ richest Olympic harvest came in Tokyo three years ago with a gold from Hidilyn Diaz, silvers from Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam and a bronze from Eumir Marcial. The delegation was 19. The only other Olympics where the Philippines had more than one medal was in 1932 with swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso, high jumper Simon Toribio and boxer Cely Villanueva pocketing a bronze apiece. The 1932 delegation had only eight athletes and three made it to the podium.

The hope is the Philippines will bring home at least another gold from Paris and it could come from pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo or any of the boxers. But let’s not dismiss the chances of the other Paris-bound athletes whose attitude should be to compete with a podium finish in mind and not to be satisfied by just qualifying.