Two-time Olympian Nesthy Petecio is set to wrap up the year 2024 with another Olympic medal draped around her neck, along with the blessings that came with her dedication to the Philippines and boxing.
These days, two-time Philippine Olympian Nesthy Petecio no longer goes unnoticed when she makes her public appearances on home soil.
So much so that she was among the stars in attendance flashed on the jumbotron when she attended the recent PVL rivalry game between Creamline and Choco Mucho last December 3 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Sobrang totoo po ‘yan, na nakikilala na po ako!” she told reporters in a quick press conference at the Araneta Coliseum media room. “Sobrang nakaka-overwhelm ‘yung ganun, na nanonood ako dati ng ibang volleyball na laro, pero hindi siya ganun na pag naglalakad ako [may lalapit na], ‘Hi Nesthy!’.”
“Sabi ko nga lagi sa partner ko na ‘Hala, kilala na pala nila ako!’. Ang sarap po sa pakiramdam na nakikilala na ako ng mga tao.”
But if anything, this is just one of Nesthy Petecio’s many reasons to be thankful for as 2024 approaches its final stretch. After all, this year also marks her second-straight Olympic appearance following her silver medal finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
By copping a bronze medal in Paris, Petecio became the fourth Filipino athlete to win at least two Olympic medals and is the first boxer to achieve such a feat in the country.
Further reflecting on her productive year, the Davao del Sur native turned sentimental as she shared her abundance of blessings.
“Sobrang [blessed] po,” Petecio said. “Sabi ko nga, ‘yung mga hiniling ko, hindi binigay ni Lord, pero ‘yung binigay niya, sobra pa sa hiniling ko! So ganun po ako ka-blessed ngayon, most especially sa pamilya ko, sa mga kapatid ko…na nabibigay ko na talaga ‘yung gusto nila pati sa mama at papa ko.”
Petecio was a recipient of the Senate Medal of Excellence through her Paris Olympics triumph along with fellow medalists Carlos Yulo and Aira Villegas. Accompanying this, was millions in cash incentives through government mandates, and in-kind additions from sports patrons.
All that, as she added another page to her storied chapter in the history books of Philippine sports.
“So ‘yun, grabe ‘yung blessing na binigay ni Lord sa akin, ‘di lang talaga sa akin, pero pati sa pamilya ko. Lagi ko kasing dasal na kung ibe-bless ako ni Lord, sana pati mga kapatid ko,” Petecio shared.
“Ngayon ko lang siya na-realize na hindi man directly nabibgay ni Lord ‘yung hiniling ng mga kapatid ko, dinaan [naman] Niya ‘yung blessings patungo po sa akin, at kung ano ‘yung natatanaggap ko, shine-share ko po sa kanila.”
Preparing for 2025
Nesthy Petecio is expected to resume her training by January next year as she prepares for the IBA World Boxing Championships to be held in March in Belgrade, Serbia. The two-time Olympian also expects to compete in the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) by December 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Petecio said that she will remain at featherweight as she prepares for another year of competition.
“Mag-stay lang po ako sa 57 [kilograms], sa featherweight po. Binibiro nga ako na kung kaya ko mag-54 [kilograms, bantamweight]…pero baka ma-drain na po ako,” she explained.
“Kaya pa naman [to switch weight classes], pero baka mawala ‘yung lakas ko po talaga, ‘yung speed. So ‘yun, stick po ako sa 57, kasi napatunayan ko na po siya ng dalawang Olympics na may kaya po ako, so doon po ako mag-stay po.”
The Olympic medalist also gave her thoughts on the possible exclusion of boxing in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. While nothing is final, Petecio hopes that this plan wont push through given her dreams of securing an Olympic gold.
“Sinasabi po samin ni [ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo] na hindi pa naman sure…Pero syempre, pinagdadasal ko talaga na sana matuloy kasi medyo nabitin tayo sa Paris,” Petecio said.
“So gusto ko talagang makumpleto ‘yung kulay ng medalya sa Olympics, gusto ko pa ng isang sipa pa tayo sa LA po.”
Banner image courtesy of AFP.