𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗦 | Rowing for the Philippines: Bicolana Joanie Delgaco’s Journey to the Paris Olympics
By: Daevid Micko Zape
Bolting out of the blue, Joanie Delgaco made history as the first Filipina rower to qualify for the Olympics, clocking at 7:49.39 and clinching the 4th place during the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Qualification Regatta — Women’s Singles Sculls in Chunju, Korea, last April 21, 2024.
The debutant Olympian did not expect that she would be able to stand on the podium as she knew she would be competing with strong opponents in the qualification regatta. Delgaco expressed during an interview with the sports reporter Dyan Castilllejo that she had to win the top five for their team to make their sport renowned.
Delgaco, a 26-year-old Filipina from Iriga City, once actually participated in the Palarong Pambansa, not as a rower but as a setter in volleyball. Despite her height disadvantage (5’5”), she has shown her might that captivated not just volleyball scouts, but also her coach in rowing.
The Bicolana had to take a big shift from her five years experience in volleyball to rowing after being confronted directly by her coach in her house insisting that she has the prowess to overcome the waves of the rowing world.
Packing her clothes in a cardboard box, the teenage Iriga native had to go to Manila and learn rowing without having any previous knowledge of the sport.
After grasping the fundamentals of rowing, within just a year, Delgaco bagged her first gold medal in Lightweight Double Sculls of 2019 SEA Games.
“That’s when I felt like this is where I am going to excel. And then, every year after that, the blessings did not stop, “ the soon-to-be Olympian exclaimed in an interview with Rappler.
Nabbing medals from various competitions during her eight years of experience in rowing, Delgaco tried to qualify for the olympics way back 2016 and 2021 when she both failed to secure an olympic ticket. Now, after clinching the 4th place in the World Rowing Asian and Oceanian Qualification Regatta — Women’s Singles Sculls, she has finally booked her flight to Paris for this year’s Olympics.
From setting volleyballs alongside the beach to rowing and sculling through the waters, Delgaco has made it this far and has reached a milestone not just to herself but also the history of female rowing in the Philippines.
“Bihira lang mga atletang nakakapasok dito sa Olympic competition (It’s rare for athletes to get in to the Olympics),” remarked Delgaco during an interview with Rappler.
Our Bicolana Olympian was able to achieve and be part of the top 24 of Women’s Single Sculls of 2024 Paris Olympics and will compete for the last time in the final D set on August 3, 2024, locking horns for the rankings of 13th to 24th place.
