Cover Coaches of Filipino Olympians are driving our athletes to greatness at the Paris 2024 Olympics (Photo: Abraham Tolentino)
Coaches of Filipino Olympians are driving our athletes to greatness at the Paris 2024 Olympics (Photo: Abraham Tolentino)
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Before the Paris 2024 Olympics, it's time to highlight the coaches of Filipino Olympians tirelessly pushing our athletes forward
As the Paris 2024 Olympics approaches, all Filipino Olympians are preparing to showcase their capabilities. Their hard work is matched by the dedication of their coaching staff, who work holistically on the athletes’ growth. From physical condition to mental wellness, these coaches provide invaluable support. Their decades of experience lay the groundwork for these athletes to excel on the international stage. These coaches of Filipino Olympians deserve to be celebrated for their resilience behind the scenes.
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Vitaly Petrov: Coach of EJ Obiena
Above EJ Obiena and his Coach Vitaly Petrov (Photo: Facebook / EJ Obiena)
EJ Obiena and his Coach Vitaly Petrov (Photo: Facebook / EJ Obiena)
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Vitaly Petrov is the Ukrainian coach who heads Filipino Olympian EJ Obiena’s coaching staff. He has been coaching pole vaulting for over 50 years. Under Petrov’s guidance, Obiena broke the six-meter barrier.
He also trained other pole vaulters like Sergey Bubka, Yelena Isinbayevya, and Giuseppe Gibilisco. All three athletes were world champions. Under Petrov’s guidance, Isinbayeva and Gibilisco obtained Olympic gold medals. Petrov received the IAAF Coaches Award from the International Association of Athletics Federation in 2007.
Valeri Liukin: Coach of Levi Jung-Ruivivar
Above Valeri Liukin (Photo: Getty Images / Greg Trott)
Valeri Liukin (Photo: Getty Images / Greg Trott)
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This Kazakh-American retired artistic gymnast is currently coaching Filipino Olympian Levi Ruivivar. Liukin was a champion in the 1988 Olympics and received a silver medal for the all-around and parallel bars. He is part of the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
Ronald Chavez: Coach of Eumir Marcial & Hergie Bacyadan
Above Coach Ronald Chavez (Photo: Asian Boxing Confederation Website)
Coach Ronald Chavez (Photo: Asian Boxing Confederation Website)
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Chavez represented the Philippines in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He started as a featherweight, receiving a bronze medal in the 1989 Southeast Asian Games. Two years later, he received a gold medal at the 1991 Southeast Asian Games.
But his career highlight happened in 1992. Chavez received the gold medal at the 1992 Asian Amateur Boxing Championships in Bangkok. He joined the Philippine national boxing team after retiring in 1996.
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Reynaldo Galido: Coach of Aira Villegas & Nesthy Petecio
Above Coach Reynaldo Galido (Photo: Instagram / @reynaldogalido)
Coach Reynaldo Galido (Photo: Instagram / @reynaldogalido)
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Galido won the gold medal in boxing at the 1994 Asian Games. He also joined the men’s light welterweight event at the 1996 Summer Olympics. He is now part of the coaching staff for the 2024 Olympics.
Along with Coach Mitchell Martinez, he is taking care of two Filipino Olympians: light-flyweight Villegas and the featherweight Petecio.
Edmundo Cardano: Elreen Ann Ando
Above Edmundo Cardano (Photo: Facebook / University of the East)
Edmundo Cardano (Photo: Facebook / University of the East)
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Coach Cardano has been Head Coach of the University of the East Weightlifting Team since 1989. Previously, he served as national coach in the Philippine Weightlifting Men’s and Women’s Team. He is also part of the national weightlifting coaching staff.
Janelle McDonald: Coach of Emma Malabuyo
Above Coach Janelle McDonald (Photo: California Golden Bears Athletics Website)
Coach Janelle McDonald (Photo: California Golden Bears Athletics Website)
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McDonald was named the 2023 West Region Coach of the Year by the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA). She has been coaching since 1999 and recently coached Malabuyo, who received a bronze medal at the 2024 Asian Games.
Elmer Pamisa: Coach of Carlo Paalam
Above Carlo Paalam and his coach (Photo: Facebook / Elmer Pamisa)
Carlo Paalam and his coach (Photo: Facebook / Elmer Pamisa)
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Pamisa has been training the Filipino Olympian Carlo Paalam since he was twelve years old. At the time, Paalam was picking scraps from a landfill to survive. After Pamisa discovered Paalam’s talents, he nurtured Paalam and encouraged him through the years. When Filipino Olympian Paalam received his silver medal in the flyweight division at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Paalam was incredibly proud of his progress.
Luka Gabrilo: Coach of Kayla Sanchez
Above Luka Gabrilo and Kayla Sanchez's team (Photo: Instagram / @phil.sportscommission)
Luka Gabrilo and Kayla Sanchez's team (Photo: Instagram / @phil.sportscommission)
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Born to an Olympian swimmer mother and an Olympic water polo player, Gabrilo has a long history of involvement in swimming. Since 2017, he has been the Israeli national team coach. In recent months, he oversaw Sanchez’s training as she prepared for the 2024 Olympics. Along with Olympic swimmer Barbora Seemanova and physiotherapist Jan Herber, they are mentoring other Filipino coaches and swimmers.
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Celine first read Charlotte’s Web at the age of five–and she hasn’t stopped turning pages since. Her favourite authors are Mona Awad and Nat Cassidy. Besides writing for Tatler, she listens to BTS and spends time with her family.
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Celine took up secondary education with a major in English, graduating from De La Salle University in 2023. She advocates for female empowerment through creative expression by writing for Tatler Homes.
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