2024 Paris Olympics-bound Sam Catantan and her coach Amat Canlas. Photo by Rom Anzures, ABS-CBN News.MANILA — Following her left ACL injury in early 2023, Filipina fencing star Sam Catantan is set to represent the country in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games later this year.

The 22-year-old recently punched her ticket to the Summer Games by defeating Kazakhstan’s Sofiya Aktayeva at the Asia Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifiers 2024 in Dubai in April, but the University of the East product revealed that she is still working to get to 100% playing form.

“I think 9 out of 10 na po ako,” she said during the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association Forum on Tuesday in Manila.

“Yung 10% po, talagang mental eh. Mentally po, it’s really hard to recover. Siyempre ang hirap pong recovery.”

Before her victory in the Olympic qualifiers, Catantan suffered an injury during the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in May 2023.

That is why at present, she, as well as her coach Amat Canlas, are extra focused on regaining her confidence, especially in her knee. 

“Like I always do in the past, talagang ita-try po namin 'yung very best to prepare for this tournament. We’re not just gonna work on our technical skills in fencing; gusto rin po naming ma-maintain 'yung consistency sa strength and conditioning, and the mental toughness that I’m gonna need.”

“Ang gagawin muna namin, ibalik siya sa 100% mentally, kasi meron pa rin siyang takot because of ACL eh. 'Yun muna 'yung kailangan para maibalik 'yung speed niya, wala pa siyang peace of mind, na baka bumalik,” Canlas continued.

On the other hand, Canlas shared their camp’s perspective as they head into the Paris Games.

“Merong mga heavy favorites, 'yung mga defending champions, sila 'yung heavy favorites talaga,” he said about their expectations of their opponents.

He then admitted that because Catantan was not being able to compete in the other tournaments ahead of the Olympics as she was recovering from her ACL injury, this puts them in an unfavorable position in the Games.

“Hindi kami nag-compete sa Worlds kasi nga sa injury niya. So ang talagang chance namin [if mag-advance] is 'yung makatapat 'yung No. 1 or No. 2. 'Yun po 'yung pinakamabigat na haharapin namin kasi nga galing kami sa wildcard eh, so mapupunta talaga kami sa pinakababa,” he explained of the fencing competition.

“Direct elimination siya, pero siyempre, maglalaro muna kami sa Round of 64 eh. Pag pasok namin, tapos if manalo kami sa Round of 32, ['yung top teams] na agad ang kalaban.”

“For example, kung nandito kami sa medyo gitna 'yung ranking, mga 16 or 27, 25, may chance siguro 'yan. Pero itong mga ‘to, yung 1 to 8, matindi po talaga.”

But on the bright side, what is more important for Catantan’s camp is the bigger picture that they have the capabilities to compete in fencing’s biggest stage.

“Pero dadating din tayo diyan [sa taas]. Sabi ko nga, one at a time. Step by step,” Canlas said.

“Importante, nabuksan na 'yung pinto at napatunayan na kaya natin. Parang dati lang, sila Hidilyn [Diaz], nag-start lang siya tapos nakuha niya. Ganoon din ‘to, 'yun din 'yung susundan namin.”

“Ipapakita namin na kaya natin. 'Yun muna,” he ended.