Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines won silver Tuesday in ladies’s featherweight boxing after a close match versus Japan’s Sena Irie.
The out fighter committed her win to her nation, her coaches and to LGBTQ individuals.
“This win is for the LGBTQ community. Let’s go, fight!” she stated, according to a translation from ESPN.
Petecio’s Olympic medal brought a variety of historical firsts for her nation: She is the very first lady from the Philippines to win a boxing medal, and the very first Filipino fighter to medal at the Games in nearly 25 years, according to Outsports.
She and her colleague Irish Magno, who is likewise part of the LGBTQ neighborhood, were the very first Filipino ladies to contend in boxing at the Olympics. Magno was the very first Filipino lady to receive the Games, according to Quartz.
Boxing is among the most popular sports in the Philippines along with basketball, The Los Angeles Times reported. Half of the 12 Olympic medals the nation has actually ever won have actually can be found in boxing, and it’s anticipated to win 2 more in boxing prior to the Tokyo Games end.
That history encouraged Petecio, 29, to box in the top place. In an interview with the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Channel, she stated the Filipino fighter Manny Pacquiao — who is commonly considered as among the very best expert fighters in history — has actually been a motivation for her.
“I compare my life to his,” she stated, according to a translation from the Olympic Channel. “We both came from hardships, we both started from nothing. We couldn’t eat without debt.”
She included that she sees herself in him. “He really is my idol,” she informed the Olympic Channel. She stated her dad started training her in boxing at simply 11 years of ages, and it has actually given that assisted her to conquer hardship and assistance others.
In 2019, she won the world champion at the 2019 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships.
She informed the Olympic Channel that the 2020 Olympics are “super important” to her.
“First of all, this is for my family,” she stated. “This isn’t for me, it’s for my dad. He always wanted to compete in the Olympics, but that dream ended. So I promised myself that I would be the one to carry out his dream. For my family, for the country and even myself.”
Both Petecio and Irie offered it their all in their 3rd and last round on Tuesday, ESPN5 reported. The match was close, however all 5 judges offered the round to Irie.
When Petecio accepted her silver medal, she sobbed. In a post-match interview with ESPN5, she excused just bringing house a silver medal. “To all who prayed for me, messaged me, I thank you very much,” she stated.
She included that she’s currently anticipating the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. “We’re still going after the gold,” she said, according to Outsports. “We’re refrained from doing.”
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