OLYMPICS has been the sports event spectators from all over the world eagerly await every four years. But this year’s edition will be one for the books for the Philippines as it will send its first-ever Filipina representative for the rowing competition.

26-year-old Joanie Delgaco is rowing to the 2024 Paris Olympics, alongside 21 other Philippine bets who will compete in different Olympic games, including weightlifting, boxing, gymnastics, athletics, and swimming.

While her ticket to the Paris Olympics 2024 is already a win, her journey to the biggest sports event in the world is not as smooth sailing as it seems. In fact, representing the country in rowing was not part of her initial plan.

Traversing new course

Hailing from Iriga, Camarines Sur, Delgaco was born to a painter and a housewife in 1998. Since her younger years, Delgaco has been eyeing to carve her own name in the sports industry, revealing in a high school project that playing for the country’s national volleyball team was her “ultimate dream,” based on her exclusive interview with Vogue Philippines.

To achieve her goal, Delgaco entered the Palarong Pambansa, an annual multi-sport event for student-athletes from 17 different regions in the country. She played as a setter with a height of 5 feet and 5 inches.

But it seems that the universe had another plan for Delgaco.

In an interview with GMA’s “Game On” podcast, the athlete recalled that a coach from Bicol approached her during the Palarong Pambansa event, whom she initially thought was a coach for a beach volleyball team.

“Nakita po ako ng coach ng rowing. So, in-expect ko po, akala ko volleyball, beach volleyball, kasi matangkad po kasi yung coach ko na nag-recruit sa’kin. Tapos ayun po, in-open niya po sa’kin na, ‘Gusto mo bang i-try yung sports na rowing?’” she narrated.

Despite her lack of knowledge about rowing, Delgaco bravely stepped out of her comfort zone and began propelling a racing boat using oars. Starting a new sport at 17 may be a little late for some, but this did not hinder the athlete from achieving her dream of becoming part of the national team.

For starters, rowing is different from dragon boating. Rowers propel their boats backward using oars, while dragon boaters bring the boat forward using paddles.

“Nung una, hindi ko po talaga nakikita yung sarili ko sa rowing kasi ‘yun nga po, ang tagal ko talaga sa volleyball. Nung nasa volleyball ako, doon ko po nakita na parang hindi dito sa sport na ‘to,” she explained, mentioning the tight competition in volleyball.

“Naramdaman ko po ‘yon sa volleyball kasi ‘di ba po maraming sikat po talaga na volleyball [players],” she continued. “Parang mas marami talagang magagaling sa volleyball eh.”

Overcoming challenges

Delgaco encountered a series of challenges before becoming the rower she is known today. Not only did she have to start from scratch, but she also needed to get her mother’s approval before venturing into rowing.

She recalled when her coach was trying to convince her parents to allow her to try rowing, but Delgaco’s mom disagreed because she was still a minor at that time.

“Yung mama ko ayaw kasi minor age pa lang ako, tapos yung papa ko gusto niya. Eh ako po gustong-gusto ko rin ma-try yung rowing. Umiiyak po ako nung time na ‘yon kasi hindi nga po ako pinapayagan ng mama ko na mag-try, lumuwas ng Manila,” said Delgaco.

She eventually received her mom’s blessing and began training in the capital city, which became another challenge for the athlete. Delgaco recalled training three times a day—from 4 a.m., 8 a.m., and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.—from Mondays to Saturdays.

Her hard work paid off, propelling her to her dream of becoming a member of the national team in 2015.

With her family serving as her driving force, Delgaco bagged multiple notable awards for the country, including her first gold medal in the 2019 edition of Southeast Asian (SEA) games for lightweight double sculls and a silver medal for single sculls in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2021.

Delgaco, along with Edgar Ilas, clinched another gold at the 2023 Asian Rowing Beach Sprint Championships in the mixed double sculls. This triumph was followed by her historic win in the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Qualification Regatta in South Korea, where she finished fourth in the women’s single sculls finals in April 2024.

Rowing to Paris Olympics 2024

The 26-year-old rower has made history by becoming the first Filipina rower to represent the country in the upcoming Olympic Games. 

Delgaco is the fourth rower from the Philippines to qualify for the Olympics, following Edgardo Mearina in the 1988 Seoul Games, Benjamin Tolentino in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and Cris Nievares in the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

“Sobrang proud ko po kasi first Olympic rower po [ako] na babae na unang nakapasok sa Olympics. So, history po talaga na ako po talaga mismo yung nakapasok po sa Olympics,” she said in an interview with One Sports.

In a Facebook post, the Pinay rower also thanked those who supported her in her rowing journey, particularly her family, teammates, and coaches.

“Sometimes I want to give up and never believe in myself. But here I am today blessed and God answered my long-time prayer,” she wrote.

Delgaco has begun training for the Paris Olympics 2024, which will kick off on July 26. Along with her coach Maerina, the Gen Z rower went to Schwebsange, Luxembourg last week to participate in the 7th Waistrooss Head of River event, where she was named the fastest female rower in the 5000m handicap race.

In a One PH report, Delgaco said that her participation in the event helped her strengthen her endurance for the Olympics 2024, especially since it was her first time rowing in a five kilometer race.

“Sa ngayon pa lang, para sa’kin maramdaman ko yung bigat ng training kasi sa actual competition—para mas madali na gawin doon,” she said.