Filipina jin Kirstie Alora sets sights on 2020 after bowing out of Rio Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO — Kirstie Elaine Alora was left in in tears after she exited the Olympic taekwondo competitions, ending the Philippine campaign in Rio.

But Alora says that the losses will serve as a lesson for her and fuel her to do better as she eyes a return in the Tokyo Olympics.

“Another sad moment na second chance ko na pero still, parang pinagkait sa akin. Siguro kailangan ko pa na ’wag itigil ’yung journey ko sa pagtataekwondo,” said Alora.

Alora lost in her first match against Maria Espinoza of Mexico, but got another shot in a repechage when Espinoza reached the finals of the women’s +67kg division.

She needed two wins to get the bronze medal, but got tripped on the first fight.

Going up against a taller Dislam, Alora gained a 5-4 lead in the final round with 20 seconds to play but the Moroccan landed shots to the body in the final seconds to take command.

In her final attempt to win the bout, Alora attempted a kick to the head that could have given her three points but the strike didn't register on the scoreboard and not even a video review could overturn it.

Alora said she had plans of retiring if she won a medal in Rio, but now she wants another shot.

“Instinct ko kasi is if magkamedal ako, maybe this is the last. I think may gusto pa si God sa akin na have a long journey for my taekwondo career,” said Alora.

“For this journey, maybe it’s God’s will na kung ano ’yung para sa akin, ayaw pa Niya ako huminto. Maybe gusto Niya ako maging Asian champion or world champion before maging Olympic champion,” said Alora.

Alora said she will have to work even harder for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“I think kailangan ko pa mag-ensayo to get a good ranking kasi ’yung mga nakakalaban ko have a good standing. ’Yun talaga kailangan ko i-pursue na taasan ’yung ranking ko. I need to have a medal dun sa mga sasalihan ko. ’Yun ang magmomotivate sa akin na pag-igihan pa,” said Alora.

Source: Jerome Ascano of Spin.ph

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Eric Cray falls short of reaching Olympic 400m hurdles finals after finishing seventh in semifinals

RIO DE JANEIRO - Eric Cray bowed out of the semifinals of the Olympic 400-meter hurdles on Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro (Wednesday, Manila time).

The Fil-American track athlete clocked 49.37 for a disappointing seventh in the first semifinal, failing to match or much less surpass his 49.05 in the qualifying heats two days ago after failing to clear one hurdle.

American Kerron Clement topped the first of three semifinal races with a 48.26-second run, towing Kenya’s Boniface Mucheru (48.85) to the final.

Four runners from the second semifinal led by Jamaica’s Annsert Whyte in 48.32 advanced to the gold medal run.

Source: Jerome Ascano of Spin.ph

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Marestella Torres claims she hurt hip after awkward landing in long jump warmups

RIO DE JANEIRO — Marestella Torres-Sunang said she hurt her left hip during warm-ups and she ended up jumping a little too cautious in the competition proper of the women’s long jump in the Olympics on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).

“Hindi ako maka-atake ng husto. Pinipigilan ko kasi kapag binibilisan ko ‘yung takbo ko, may sumasakit,” said Torres-Sunang.

The three-time Olympian failed to reach the finals after coming up with a disappointing 6.22 on her first attempt and even shorter leaps in the next two.

Just last month, Sunang jumped 6.72 to qualify for Rio and a few months back won the national open with a 6.6 leap.

Her 6.22 put her in 14th spot in Group B.

It was sadly a repeat of her London stint, where the best she could do was also 6.22 after earlier registering 6.71 to win gold in the Southeast Asian Games.

Torres said she landed awkwardly during the warm-up, hitting the same spot a competitor from Great Britain also landed into.

“Dun ako na-shoot dun sa tinalunan nung sinundan ko. Sumakit ’yung hips ko,” said Torres-Sunang.

Sunang noted a spot in the finals was achievable, with the last spot in the finals claimed by Britain’s Jazmin Sawyers with a 6.53-m leap.

“Sayang kasi kung makikita mo ’yung result talaga, kung makuha ko lang ’yung 6.40, 6.50, mababa rin halos lahat,” said Torres-Sunang.

Source: Reuben Terrado of Spin.ph

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German Olympic canoe coach dies in Rio after taxi crash

A German canoe slalom coach dies after suffering serious head injuries in a taxi accident at the Rio Olympics

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - A German canoe slalom coach died on Monday, August 15 after he suffered serious head injuries in a taxi accident at the Rio Olympics, team officials said.

Stefan Henze, 35, a former world champion and 2004 Olympic silver medallist, died in hospital surrounded by close family members.

German flags will be flown at half-mast at Olympic sites on Tuesday in honor of Henze, who was travelling from the canoe slalom venue in a taxi when the accident happened in the early hours of Friday.

"We are endlessly sad on this day. Words cannot describe what we as the Olympic team feel after this terrible loss," said German Olympic committee president Alfons Hoermann.

Henze's family released a statement saying: "We know Stefan's own Olympic thoughts live on in a lot of people."

Henze needed emergency surgery after Friday's crash and doctors had described his condition as life-threatening.

Christian Kading, a sports scientist who works with the team, was also in the taxi but he was not seriously hurt.

"Today the sport for which our whole team came to Rio de Janiero is at the back of our minds," said chef de mission Michael Vesper.

"Our thoughts are with Stefan Henze's relatives who had the possibility to say goodbye here."

The German delegation will also hold a service for Henze in the athletes' village on Tuesday.

An International Olympic Committee statement said: "The IOC mourns the death of a true Olympian." – Rappler.com

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PH Olympic bet Eric Cray advances to 400m hurdles semifinals

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Filipino-American trackster Eric Crayqualified for the semifinals of the men's 400m hurdles in the 2016 Summer Olympics on Monday, August 15 in Rio de Janeiro Brazil.

The 27-year-old Cray, born to a Filipina mother in Olongapo City and an American father but raised in Texas, finished third in heat 4 of round 1 of competition with a time of 49.05 seconds. His personal best time is 48.98 seconds. The top 3 finishers of each of the 6 heats will advance to the semifinals along with the next 6 fastest runners.

The two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, who was feeling confident coming into the race, will run the semifinals on Wednesday, August 17. The final, should he make it, will be on Thursday, August 18.

Aside from Cray, there are only two other Filipinos left in contention at Rio with long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang set to compete on Wednesday, and taekwondo jin Kirstie Alora taking the mat Saturday for the 67kg Round of 16.

Only weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has put the Philippines on the medal table with a silver for the country's very first Olympic hardware in 20 years.

Below is the full list of semifinalists for men's 400m hurdles

Screengrab from Rio Olympics website

– Rappler.com

Author: Jane Bracher

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PH marathoner Tabal refused to quit despite Rio heat

'Others were collapsing on the road. Sometimes I also wanted to stop already but I forced myself to finish,' says Olympian Mary Joy Tabal

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Mary Joy Tabal of the Philippines could not handle Brazil’s noontime heat Sunday and finished way outside her targeted time in the women’s marathon of the Rio Olympics.

Tabal aimed at surpassing her personal best of two hours 43 minutes and 31 seconds in the race that started and ended at Sambrodome, the venue of the world-famous Rio Carnival.

But she failed to live up to her own expectations, terribly suffering under the heat and finishing with a time of 3:02:27, which was good for 124th among 157 starters.

Jemima Jelagat Sumgong gave Kenya its first Olympic gold in women’s marathon, winning with a time of 2:24:04, which is just under a minute off the Olympic record.

Eunice Jepkirul Kirwa of Bahrain took the silver medal in 2:24:13 while Ethiopian Mare Dibaba bagged the bronze with a time of 2:24:30.

Three runners from the United States finished inside the top 10, joined by one more entry from Ethiopia, Belarus, Bahrain and South Korea.

The top finishers were already done with the press interviews along the finish line area when the lone Filipina entry crossed the finish, cheered on by the crowd.

Tabal was 38 minutes and 23 seconds behind the winner from Kenya.

Tabal was so exhausted after the race she was on the verge of collapse. Medical staff of the Rio Olympics attended to her immediately.

It took some time before Tabal regained her composure. Medics offered to wheel her out but said there was really no need for the wheelchair.

A total of 24 did not finish the race.

Tabal said she saw runners quit during the race, most of them in the final 10 kms. Runners crossing the finish line and falling to the ground was a common sight.

“Yung iba talaga tumutumba na sa daan. Masyado mainit kanina. Minsan gusto ko na din tumigil pero pinilit ko tapusin ang karera,” she said.

(Others were collapsing on the road. Sometimes I also wanted to stop already but I forced myself to finish.)

“Sabi ko sa sarili ko, hindi ako papayag na DNF (did not finish) ang Pilipinas. Kaya slowly but surely, tinapos ko. Hindi ko na inisip yung time,” added Tabal.

(I told myself I will not allow DNF for the Philippines. That’s why slowly but surely I finished it. I didn’t think of the time anymore.)

It was a gallant effort on her side even if she fell way short of her target. She said on the eve of the race that she was targeting a time faster than her 2:43:31.

“Kahit 2:40 sana,” she said.

But Tabal said the heat slowed her down. She also rued the lack of water stations along the 42.195 km route but said it’s not really the reason for her failure.

All the other runners went through the same ordeal. Others say Tabal had suffered from burnout after running a marathon too many this year.

“Ginawa ko na lang lahat ng makakaya ko para makatapos. Sa last 10 kilometers para na talagang bibigay ang katawan ko,” said Tabal.

(I just gave everything I did everything I could to finish. In the last 10KM it was as if my body was really about to give up.)

“Pero nasa Olympics pa naman ako kaya pinilit ko talaga. Inisip ko na lang ang mga kababayan natin na nanonood sa akin. Hindi ako puwede tumigil,” she added.

(But I am in the Olympics, that’s why I really pushed myself. I just thought of our countrymen who are watching me. I could not stop.) –Rappler.com

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