2024 has been a big year for Philippine sports. Maybe even the biggest.
The country now boasts two more gold Olympic medals, courtesy of gymnast Carlos Yulo who reigned supreme in both the men’s artistic gymnastics floor exercise and the men’s vault final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Beyond the Olympics, athletes such as basketball player Kai Sotto and tennis player Alex Eala have represented the country in prestigious international championships. Excelling in a wide array of sports, Filipino athletes this year have showcased the Philippines’ growing prowess on the global stage and have inspired a new generation of the country’s athletes to raise the bar even higher.
With tournaments winding down for the year, Rolling Stone Philippines presents the Filipino athletes who truly stood out this 2024 and made their mark on the world of sports.
Carlos Yulo
Filipino gymnast Carlo Yulo cemented his place in Philippine sports history this year after becoming the first Filipino Olympic double gold medalist as well as the first Filipino to win multiple medals in a single Olympic Game. Yulo’s win comes after a heartbreaking loss in last year’s World Artistic Gymnastics Championship where he fell short of taking home the bronze medal in the men’s floor exercise final. However, the 24-year-old athlete rewrote his legacy and made a comeback after bringing global recognition to the country’s gymnastics.
EJ Obiena
Ernest John “EJ” Uy Obiena also spotlighted Philippine gymnastics by placing fourth in the men’s pole vault final at the Paris Olympics. A fractured spine limited his movement during the event, costing him a potential win and losing Obiena his number two No. 2 spot in the Word Athletics Rankings (he now ranks No. 4). While he has been met with several setbacks, Obiena shows no signs of slowing down. Having already announced that he is fully healed and intends to join next March’s World Indoor Championships, Obiena continues to honor Philippine athleticism. Additionally, Obiena has recently opened a pole vault facility in Ilocos Norte with the hopes of providing young aspiring Filipino gymnasts with the mentorship they need to excel at their chosen sport.
Alex Eala
At this year’s Billie Jean King Cup in November, national tennis wunderkind Alex Eala brought the women’s tennis team to victory against Qatar in a brutal 6-0 match against Qatari tennis player Mubaraka Al-Naili. The win is a welcome one especially after Eala fell short in the French Open main draw bid earlier this May. Despite this loss, Eala has finished the year with a maintained No. 149 spot on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Ranking and continues to be the highest-ranked Filipino tennis player on the WTA Tour.
Rubilen Amit
Professional pool player Rubilen Amit became the first Filipina to win the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) Women’s World 9-Ball Championship title this year. The Cebu native defeated China’s Chen Siming 3-1 (1-4, 4-2, 4-2, 4-3), taking home the top prize of $50,000 and redeeming herself after several semi-final exits and a runner-up finish in previous years. Amit is no stranger to sports accolades, as she also won the WPA Women’s 10-Ball Championship crown in 2009. Last year, the pool player founded the Amit Cup, an amateur pool tournament that she hopes will grow a love for the sport among up-and-coming female pool players across the country.
Nesthy Petecio
Boxer Nesthy Petecio secured the country’s second bronze Olympic medal in boxing at the Paris Olympics this year. Placing in third place in the women’s boxing 57kg division, the pride of Davao del Sur won her second Olympic medal after winning silver in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. Petecio has been a regular fixture in the boxing ring since the age of 11 and has won several silver medals at the 2011 and 2013 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, among others.
Aira Villegas
Boxer Aira Villegas brought home the bronze medal in the semifinals of the women’s 50kg boxing event at the Paris Olympics. Villegas has been a regular fixture in the boxing ring since she was nine with her older brother amateur boxer Rominick Villegas as her first trainer. Since then, Villegas has become a rising star in women’s boxing, competing in multiple international events such as the 2019 SEA Games, where she won bronze before making her way to the 2024 Olympics.
Gilas Pilipinas
The Philippines men’s national basketball team Gilas Pilipinas has had a successful year, earning its place in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup. The team remained undefeated, winning 93-89 over New Zealand and 93-54 over Hong Kong. The Cup will be hosted next August in Saudi Arabia, where Gilas Pilipinas will have to maintain their success in order to bring home the championship title. Additionally, Gilas Pilipinas put up a good fight during the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament; however, after star player Kai Sotto had to sit out the rest of the semifinals due to a rib injury, the team lost their Olympic bid to Brazil.
Samantha “Sam” Catantan
Samantha “Sam” Catantan became the first Filipino fencer to compete in the Olympics in over thirty years. Despite injuring her knee in the Asia-Oceanic Zonal Olympic Qualifier, Catantan overcame it and finished her final match with a 14-14 tie, qualifying her for a spot in the Paris Olympics. Catantan wrapped up her Olympic debut with two hard-fought matches and the desire to prepare for the upcoming 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Philippine Men’s National Football Team
In the 2024 King’s Cup held in Songkhla, Thailand, the Philippine men’s national football team won bronze after beating Tajikistan 3-0. Players Zico Bailey, Jefferson Tabinas, and Gerrit Holtmann all scored in the game’s second half, with Holtmann breaking the game’s scoreless deadlock in the 47th minute. The match marks the first win for newly installed head coach Albert Capellas, who took charge of the team earlier this September.
Joanie Delgaco
This year, Joanie Delgaco became the first Filipina rower to qualify for the Olympic Games. The SEA Games gold medalist and Bicol native finished 20th overall in the women’s single sculls event. While she may not have brought home any medals, Delgaco logged her fastest time yet with the final event, clocking in at seven minutes and forty-three seconds.
Elreen Ando
Weightlifter Elreen Ando recorded personal bests at the Paris Olympics, registering a total of 230kg to finish in sixth place in the women’s weightlifting 59kg event. Ando successfully lifted 100kg, beating a personal record; however, because she failed to lift the remaining kilograms within the allotted number of attempts, she was unable to secure a spot on the podium.
Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina
Golfers Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina gave outstanding performances during the fourth and final round of the women’s individual stroke play at the Paris Olympics’ Le Golf National. While neither of them made it to the podium, Pagdanganan secured fourth place in the event and finished her run as the highest-ever ranking Filipino golfer in the Olympics. Meanwhile, Ardina finished in thirteenth place after displaying commendable ability in her golfing events.
