Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio and Poland’s Julia Szeremeta (Blue) compete in the women’s 57kg semi-final boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Roland-Garros Stadium, in Paris on August 7, 2024. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)
A promotion awaits boxer Nesthy Petecio, who holds the rank of Petty Officer Second Class in the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), for her bronze medal finish in the women’s 57-kilogram division at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Despite failing to advance further to the finals for a chance to win either a gold or a silver, Petecio’s victory was “a very inspiring achievement for the youth,” Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan said on Thursday.
“The Coast Guard will be promoting her to the next higher rank when she comes back,” Gavan told reporters at the PCG headquarters in Manila.
This will make the 32-year-old Petecio a petty officer first class, which is equivalent to the rank of staff sergeant in the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Pride and glory
In a statement, the Coast Guard Special Service Office also congratulated Petecio for her feat.
“Thank you for bringing so much pride and glory to the Philippine Coast Guard and the country. We are proud of you,” it said.
President Marcos and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos also congratulated Petecio for her bronze medal—the fourth so far for the Philippines in the Paris Olympics.
“Thank you for bringing home the bronze medal for the Philippines. You’ve truly shown the world how Filipinos never back down from a challenge,” Mr. Marcos said on his Facebook and Instagram accounts.
“The whole country is proud of you! Taas kamao, para sa boxingerong Pilipino. (A raised fist, for the Filipino boxer!)” he added.
“Another Filipina has punched her way to an Olympic medal—a proud moment for all of us! You are truly a Filipino boxing champ in our hearts!” Araneta-Marcos said on her social media accounts.
Another Senate medal
Petecio brought home a silver medal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, making her the first Filipina boxer to win an Olympic medal. For her feat, she was given the Senate medal of excellence. She may be getting another one this time based on a resolution filed by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada who praised Petecio for “consistently bringing pride to the country with her strong performances in the ring.”
READ: Nesthy Petecio gets bronze as she misses final at Paris Olympics
In his proposed Senate Resolution No. 1122, Estrada said Petecio should be conferred with the highest expression of national appreciation for the honor she has brought to the country because of her outstanding and distinguished achievements.
“Petecio embodied relentless pursuit of excellence with her mantra ‘walang hinto hangga’t walang ginto,’ and many years of hard work and intense training since taking up the sport competitively in 2007,” he said in a statement.
Earlier, Estrada also filed a resolution to give the same honor to 29-year-old Filipina boxer Aira Villegas, who won on Wednesday a bronze medal in the women’s 50-kg boxing semifinals.
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Several senators have also filed resolutions conferring on star gymnast Carlos Yulo the Senate medal for his outstanding achievement of being the first-ever Filipino athlete to win two gold Olympic medals.
Follow Inquirer Sports’ special coverage of the Paris Olympics 2024.