2024 Paris Olympic Games PH bet Lauren Hoffman. Photo from PATAFA.

MANILA — Lauren Hoffman and John Cabang are set to fight for flag and country in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The 25-year-old, Filipina-American Hoffman will be competing in the Summer Games' 400-meter hurdles event, and Hoffman expressed her eagerness to finally don the Philippines colors in the Olympics.

"The mindset is excitement and hunger. I'm hungry, I'm ready to get back on that track and compete and represent the country well," said Hoffman, whose mother is a Filipina and father an American, in a previous interview with ABS-CBN News' Migs Bustos.

Hoffman, who is expected to join the country's delegation in Paris today, shared that she has desired to represent the Philippines ever since her collegiate years. 

"I wanted to represent the Philippines since I knew that I wanted to run professionally which was in my second year of college," said the Duke University product.

"It was just a dream years in the making," she continued.

READ: Eric Cray, Lauren Hoffman capture gold in PH Athletics Championships

READ: John Cabang Tolentino, Lauren Hoffman book tickets to Paris Olympics

What fueled all of these and her eventual qualification to Paris, she shared, was her passion and love for running which started in her elementary years.

"I started running when I was 10 years old. I just kind of started running 5km, and then in middle school, I began hurdling," revealed Hoffman.

"I fell in love with it. I fell in love with how different it made running. I tried to perfect that technique, so to finally qualify for the Olympics, it's just a testament to all the hard work I've put in throughout so many years," she furthered.

Hoffman first competed in the Philippines during the 2023 Philippine Athletics Championships, and she went on to clinch a fifth-place finish in the Asian Games later that year with a time of 57.21 seconds.

Following this, Hoffman went on to reset the country's record in 400m twice, 56.39 in the US and eventually 54.85 during the Athletics Championships in Pasig earlier this year. This allowed Lauren to earn enough points and maintain her place within the Top 40 in the world's women's division, it eventually earned her a spot in Paris.

Also earning Olympic qualification due to his place in the Top 40 was Cabang-Tolentino, and he will be competing in the men's 110m hurdles.

2024 Paris Olympic Games PH bet John Cabang-Tolentino. Photo from PATAFA.

The 22-year-old Filipino who grew up in Spain sat at No.29 out of the 40 athletes when the Philippines Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) officially announced his qualification for the Olympics.

Before this, Cabang started representing and playing for the Philippines in 2022. It was then during the Asian Championships of the following year when he made his mark as he finished fourth after clocking in at 13.56.

Earlier this year, Cabang reset his personal and the Philippine record of the 110m hurdles during the National Championships in Pasig at 13.37. He also won gold during the meet.

That is why for Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) Secretary General Jasper Tanhueco, Tabang, as well Hoffman and PH’s pole vault bet EJ Obiena, is in a good position to bring home Olympic gold.

READ: EJ Obiena primed to lead PH athletics in Olympic Games

"We're positive about our chances po. I don't want to put pressure, but we know they've been training hard for them to reach this stage," said Tanhueco earlier this month.

"We're positive and confident that they are gonna perform at their highest level. And of course, what we wish as well is they enjoy that experience of representing us and battling with the best of the best," he furthered.

Hoffman will open her campaign on August 4, while Cabang will compete on the 5th, while Obiena is set to start his stint on August 3.