Pinay rower Joanie Delgaco made the country proud as she cemented her place in Philippine sports history for being in the top 24 women scullers in the world.
Despite failing to advance in the medal round, Delgaco slugged it out in the 3rd set of rowers, being pitted against the top ranked in Women’s Single rowing that included reigning Olympic gold medalist Emma Twig of Switzerland.
She clocked 7:58:2, Tuesday afternoon (PST) in a last place finish in a field of six rowers in the 2,000-meter race where only three top three finishers of each heat advance to the semifinals.
“Great effort, Joanie. We are very proud of you,” says Patrick Gregorio, Philippine Rowing Association president, in a text message to PNN.
He echoed millions of Filipino sports fans in Delgaco’s historic Olympic finish under the tutelage of Gregorio who has nothing to be ashamed of with Delgaco, a first-time Olympian, with a sterling performance.
Delgaco will still see action on Wednesday for world rankings in the semifinals for C/D finishers where she is now included in the sports’ elite women rowers.
Earlier, Gregorio has called on Filipinos to continue to support the sport of rowing where potentials for top world rankings and Olympic stints remain bright for our athletes. In an FB post, Gregorio said: “We have to believe Filipinos can excel in Rowing Let me take this rare opportunity to solicit more support to kind hearted corporate sponsors. Sana matulungan po natin ang napakagandang Sport na ito,” the post stated.
