Sam Catantan is undeniably the country’s best fencer right now, bar none.
As she joins Game On, the Paris-bound Olympian talks about the sport that has challenged her to be the best version of herself. She walks us through the rare chance of receiving an NCAA Division 1 scholarship, bouncing back from her first major injury, and the roller coaster of emotions after securing an Olympic berth for the Philippines.
As she joins Game On, the Paris-bound Olympian talks about the sport that has challenged her to be the best version of herself. She walks us through the rare chance of receiving an NCAA Division 1 scholarship, bouncing back from her first major injury, and the roller coaster of emotions after securing an Olympic berth for the Philippines.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Fencing, Olympics, dreams, favorites, and some Penn State stories with our first
00:11ever female Olympian fencer, Sam Katantan, on this episode of Game on the Podcast.
00:30What's up, sports fans?
00:37Welcome to Game on the Podcast, the first sports podcast of GMA, brought to you by GMA
00:42Regional TV, GMA Synergy, and GMA DigiLab.
00:46My name is Anton Rojas.
00:48You can catch us on GMA News and GMA Sports on YouTube and on Facebook, and of course
00:54on Apple and Spotify.
00:55I am Coach Hammer, Martin Antonio.
00:58My name is Martin Oviere.
00:59On this episode of Game on the Podcast, we are joined by a very special guest.
01:04We're all very excited.
01:05Pagkapasok pa lang po niya ng GMA Network, natunogan na lahat ng tao dito.
01:11Sobrang excited.
01:12She came from the United States.
01:14She just came back.
01:15She's going to be here for a little bit here in the Philippines before flying out to Paris.
01:19She's the former team captain of the Penn State fencing team.
01:24She is the very first Filipino fencer to qualify for the Olympics in 32 years, and
01:30the first female fencer, Olympian fencer, in Philippine history.
01:37That's all welcome.
01:38I could have done a better intro, pero it is what it is.
01:41That's all welcome.
01:42Finally here is Ms. Sam Catantan.
01:45Thank you, po.
01:48Thank you so much, po, for having me.
01:50It's an honor, po, to be here.
01:53It's an honor for you to join us here on the pod, kasi very excited kami sayo, Sam.
01:58I remember doing an interview, was it 2021?
02:02I think.
02:03Opo, hindi ko na nga po maalala sa sobrang tagal.
02:062021, fresh ka pa nun sa kakapunta mo pa lang ng United States.
02:12And ever since then, ang dami na nangyari sa buhay mo.
02:15Una muna, kamusta si Sam Catantan ngayon?
02:18Mabuti naman, po.
02:20And actually, po, ang bilis, po, graduating na po ako ngayon sa Penn State.
02:26And ano, po, next year, po, papatuli ko po yung master's degree program ko po sa Penn State.
02:35And I have one more year, po, of eligibility.
02:39Naririnig ko na yung American accent, eh, no?
02:41Oo nga, eh.
02:42Diba?
02:43Gusto ko malaman kung may NILD list na rin siya, eh.
02:45Diba?
02:46Kasi pwedeng-pwede, nandito ka ngayon, marami kang NILD list na makukuha.
02:51But you've been competing in the United States.
02:54Sige, mamaya natin yung pag-uusapan.
02:56Kasi napakahaba ng journey mo sa pagfe-fencing.
03:00But we're very proud kasi homegrown talent itong si Sam Catantan.
03:05Okay, we have to start with the very beginning, syempre, nung journey mo.
03:10Kelan ka muna na napasok sa pagfe-fencing?
03:13So, I started fencing po when I was nine.
03:16And actually, po, nag-start lang po ako sa free sports clinic program po sa District 1 po sa Quezon City.
03:24Taga dito ka rin sa District 1?
03:26Saan ka dito?
03:27Opo, Del Monte lang po.
03:28Kaming bahay tayo!
03:29Kaming bahay tayo!
03:31Del Monte!
03:32Sa balto ko!
03:33Opo, talaga po.
03:34Taga rin yung dad ko.
03:36Fresco?
03:37Fresco po.
03:38Fresco?
03:39Taga, fresco po.
03:40Okay.
03:42Anyway.
03:45So, yun po, kagawad po yung lolo ko at that time.
03:47And may mga bata pong nagtitraining sa barangay halls,
03:50and sa mga basketball courts po sa mga public schools dun po around Fresco.
03:57So, ayun po.
03:59And summer po nun, 2011.
04:02And sabi niya lang po, itry mo.
04:04And of course po, initially, gusto ko lang po makahanap ng friends.
04:09And after po na nagsert ako, hindi na po talaga huminto.
04:14Hindi ka na tumigil?
04:15Hindi na po tumigil.
04:16Nine years old.
04:18Shout out, Friscoast!
04:19Yeah!
04:20Shout out!
04:21First time ko rin marinig na may free clinics.
04:24Fencing clinics.
04:25This is my first time hearing about this.
04:30So, nine years old.
04:32And then, afterwards, high school ba?
04:36Nag varsity ka ba?
04:38Saan ka nag high school?
04:39U.E. po.
04:40Sa U.E. ka na naga?
04:41Ah, okay. Sa powerhouse na pumunta.
04:43Na-funnel na kasi yung nagpa-free camp. Malamang sa malamang yung...
04:46Okay.
04:48Go ahead. Sige.
04:49So, actually po, yung first coach ko po, Coach Christian Canlas.
04:53Kapatid po, head coach po ng U.E. fencing team po.
04:58So, I started po with Coach Christian Canlas.
05:02Siya po talaga yung nag-handle po sa mga bata.
05:05He's the one po, parang nagde-distribute sa amin kung saang school po kami pwede.
05:09And saang school po yung pwedeng mag-provide ng scholarship.
05:14And yun po, binigyan niya po ako kay Coach Amath.
05:16And yun po, din na po nag-start yung journey ko po
05:21throughout my high school career po sa U.E.
05:23Okay.
05:24Was it a forgotten conclusion that you were gonna go to U.E.
05:27because knowing that U.E. is a powerhouse
05:29and you fell in love with the sport very early?
05:31Actually, hindi po.
05:32Kasi coming to fencing po, wala pong akong idea kung ano po yung fencing.
05:38And I was never really into sports din po nung bata ako.
05:42So, first sport ko po na sinalihan ay fencing po talaga.
05:46So, and actually po when I started, hindi din po namin alam na
05:50pwede po akong makakuha ng scholarship sa mga U.A.A.P. schools po dito sa Manila.
05:57Okay.
05:58You're 22 years old now and you are the best fencer in the country, bar none.
06:04When you became MVP of the girls division of the U.A.A.P. in season 82,
06:09did you already realize that, hey, I'm good at this
06:14and perhaps I could compete in the world stage?
06:18Actually po, before po ako mag-U.A.A.P., I was always third po sa lahat ng tournaments.
06:23Actually, even my first U.A.A.P. tournament, I was only second po during the individual events.
06:31So, I settled po sa rookie lang, rookie of the year po.
06:36But then following years po, talagang consistent po,
06:42ako nag-number one po in the individual event.
06:44And consistently ko rin po nakuha po yung MVP since grade 8 up to grade 12.
06:51So, I think hindi ko po masasabi na ever since po, alam ko po na possible akong mag-excel.
06:59Pero, I just really love the sport po and talaga pong very passionate lang po talaga ako sa fencing.
07:07Okay. After the high school level, eto nakita natin to, nilampasan niya yung collegiate ranks.
07:16Of course, it's a powerhouse school. It's a powerhouse team.
07:21But you were the biggest superstar in that powerhouse team.
07:26Talk about your collegiate days first with UE.
07:29Siyempre, ibang competition na to. May mga malalakas na rin from the other schools.
07:36How did you take that challenge?
07:38Kung baga, paano mo laging ini-improve yung game mo noong mga time na yun?
07:43Actually po, like everyday po, talaga ang main motivation ko po talaga is to be better than myself po yesterday.
07:50So, ganun lang po talaga yung motivation ko everyday.
07:54And ano po eh, I was always third po talaga lagi ever since.
07:59So, every tournament po, siyempre ano ka, laging natatalo.
08:04Siyempre, you want to be on top.
08:06Pero, at the same time po, that gave me different kind of motivation po to strive harder.
08:11And hopefully po, to be the best po sooner or later.
08:14Wow, okay.
08:16Competitive juices.
08:17Kasi naalala ko, we were covering the UAP before.
08:20Very dominant talaga.
08:22Pag sinabi mo, offensive, ah, UE.
08:25Up to now, actually up to now.
08:28They're the most consistent program since Coach Ahmad has been there.
08:32And the consistency from juniors to seniors, na yung tumatawid yung mga players, na huhold nila yung time.
08:39Okay, Sam has a very interesting story.
08:41I asked you this when you went to the States for the first time.
08:45I think you were a year in already in Penn State.
08:48Pero, nakakatawa yung kwento kung papaano siya nadiskubre nung coach ng Penn State.
08:55Sige, Sam.
08:56Sisimulan ko lang.
08:57You were in Malaysia.
08:59You were invited.
09:01Sige.
09:02So, every year po, may training camp po sa Malaysia.
09:05And yung nag-host po ng training campus si Coach Non Panchan po.
09:10He was a former national team po from Thailand.
09:13He's also a foil fencer.
09:15And actually, hindi ko po alam na alumni po pala siya ng Penn State.
09:19And then, I think, siguro po mga third year ko na pong pumupunta sa camp niya.
09:25And that year po, the head coach of Penn State was invited there po as a guest.
09:30And that was my senior year of high school po.
09:32And dun niya po ako nakita.
09:34So, all alam po, hindi ko talaga pinlan na pumunta sa U.S. or mag-aral sa states.
09:40So, very, ano po, quick decision po talaga yung pagpunta ko sa Penn State.
09:45Okay, when was this?
09:47What year was this?
09:482020 po.
09:492020.
09:50Okay, it was in the middle of the pandemic.
09:522019 po pala yung camp.
09:54And then, 2020 po ako pumunta.
09:56Pumunta sa states.
09:57This was in the middle of the pandemic.
09:59Okay, para sa mga hindi pa nakaka-search, nag-vlog po si Sam.
10:03Nung prosesyon niya, pumunta sila nung mom niya sa airport.
10:07Pino-prosesa yung passport nila.
10:09Tapos yung visa.
10:10Okay.
10:11Gusto ko munang...
10:13Kasi ikaw, kung persegido ka sa buhay...
10:15Ano e, nung pandemic times, may mga taong hindi na i-re-rescued eh.
10:20Because that was the height of the pandemic.
10:22Everybody was scared.
10:23You know, COVID was just...
10:25Has just started spreading.
10:27Everywhere, right?
10:29Mag-usapan mo yung...
10:30Kasi siyempre ikaw, inilaban mo yun.
10:32At nakita kita...
10:33Mag-dirig din yung vlog niya.
10:34Talagang, grabe yung dedikit.
10:35Naka-mask sila.
10:36Pupunta sila sa embassy.
10:38Ganyan.
10:39Sige, talk about that journey first in 2020.
10:42On your way to the U.S.
10:44So actually po, I came to U.S. po.
10:47Spring semester na po.
10:48Kasi nga po, na-delay po ng one semester because of COVID.
10:51And actually po, kala ko po yung COVID po yung sign for me not to go.
10:56Kasi nga po, unexpected opportunity po na dumating sakin eh.
11:00E-hesitant po kami ng family ko.
11:03Lalo na po yung parents ko.
11:04Kasi siyempre, ako po yung panganay eh.
11:06Tapos...
11:07Ikaw mong isa ka lang doon.
11:08Opo, tas isesand po nila ako sa country po na never kaming nagpunta.
11:13Or even po, wala po kaming...
11:17Family around.
11:18Opo, family or anything.
11:19So, yun po, takot na takot po sila.
11:21But then po, I realized...
11:23Hindi ko naman po hinanap yung opportunity na yun eh.
11:26It fell on my lap po.
11:27And who am I po to take it away from me?
11:30So, I think I made one of the best decisions po in my life
11:34when I accepted po the full grant scholarship from Penn State.
11:37It's Division 1, Big 5.
11:40One of the most storied schools in the U.S.
11:45Bro, but you have to watch the vlog.
11:47At kung...
11:49Ikaw mong masestress para sa kanila doon sa binagdaanan nilang yun.
11:53Na talagang, oh my gosh.
11:55Talagang, all this para ma-fulfill mo yung pangarap mo.
11:59Okay.
12:00So, now 2020.
12:02Nabanggit ni Coach Hammer how big of a deal this is.
12:06This is Penn State competes in NCAA Division 1.
12:10Dadahan-dahan na natin ah.
12:12Small steps tayo.
12:13Before we go to the actual competitions.
12:15How was your transition there?
12:17How was your adjustment?
12:18Kasi, una-muna, that's a different world.
12:21It is a different world.
12:23Iba ang klima.
12:24Iba ang mga tao.
12:25English language, of course, secondary for Filipinos, right?
12:28So, it was a lot easier.
12:30But, how was your adjustment in your first months in the U.S.?
12:35Ano po, syempre, ano po talaga.
12:37I was very, very, very scared po talaga.
12:39Coming to Penn State.
12:41Syempre po, nag-back to zero po ako.
12:43Not just po, sa family.
12:45Kasi wala.
12:46May uncle po ako, may kapatid po.
12:47Actually, yung mommy ko po sa New York.
12:50Pero Pennsylvania po, it's still a five hours drive po
12:53to get to Penn State.
12:55And, ayun po, back to zero ko sa friends, sa family,
12:59and even po sa teammates and coaches.
13:01So, it was very hard po for me.
13:03But, at the same time po, I was also very lucky
13:05because of the pandemic po.
13:07So, I came there po.
13:08It was online classes.
13:09So, only athletes po, ang pwede lang sa campus.
13:13So, kami lang po talaga yun nandun.
13:16So, ano po, yun po yung, technically,
13:20ang naging way ko po to build my second family.
13:24Kasi, for example po, kung may classes po kami,
13:27and if may other students po,
13:29hindi ko po makasama sa lunch and dinner everyday
13:31yung mga teammates ko.
13:33So, right away po, after a month and a half po,
13:36I found my second family at Penn State.
13:40So, hindi po naging mahirap.
13:44I mean, a month and a half, mabilis lang po yun eh.
13:47Pero, yun po.
13:48So, the conditions back then helped you out
13:50in forging an immediate bond.
13:52Yes po.
13:53With your teammates.
13:54Galing ano?
13:55Ako, natakam ako nung kami lang ang pwedeng gumamit ng campus
14:01at kami lang ang pwedeng gumamit ng facilities.
14:04Imagine that!
14:05You know, these are world-class facilities
14:07that you have access to regularly.
14:10Tsaka sila lang yun androon
14:12dahil may limit yung contact ng coaches with them.
14:14That's right.
14:15Under NCAA rules and, of course, yung pandemic rules pa noon.
14:19So, yung relationships niyo talaga.
14:21Bibigyan lang sila ng workout ng coaches nila.
14:23They do it on their own.
14:25Sam, you have this nice post on Instagram.
14:27You posted it March 30, 2021,
14:30NCAA Fencing Championships.
14:32You had the Philippine flag over your shoulders.
14:36Describe the feeling of, you know, taking that leap of faith,
14:40going over there and representing the Philippines,
14:43still not forgetting what it means to the entire country
14:47to have you over there in the U.S. and representing.
14:51Siyempre po, ever since I was young po,
14:54nung narealize ko po na this is something as a long-term plan po,
15:00talaga na i-coconsider ko,
15:02siyempre po, it has always been my dream po to represent the country.
15:06And for me po, to be able to represent Philippines,
15:09even po sa NCAA po,
15:11grabe po talaga yung feeling.
15:13I was very, very proud po to represent our country.
15:17And actually po, I think I was the first Filipina din po
15:20to have a scholarship po when it comes to fencing po sa NCAA po sa U.S.
15:28And I think, hopefully po,
15:30that opened doors of opportunities po sa mga Filipino,
15:35young fencers po dito sa Pilipinas.
15:37Kasi po, ano po eh, nung bata po ako, unimaginable po yun para samin.
15:42Pero hindi ko po alam na it is possible.
15:45So hopefully po, patuli pong magtiwala po yung mga universities po sa U.S.
15:52na kaya po ng Filipino fencers po na mag-excel,
15:55not just in the Philippines but also in NCAA po, in the U.S.
16:00Eventually you became a captain for the Penn State fencing team.
16:04You're a Filipino, you were the outsider once,
16:08and now you became the team captain.
16:10Paano nangyari yun?
16:12Was there a competition, particular competition na talagang,
16:16nung ka nakita nung coach mo na okay, you can lead this team?
16:19How did it happen?
16:20So actually po, yung buong team po ang mag-elect po,
16:23kung sino po yung gusto nila maging team captain.
16:26So it's not just po the coach's decision but also po the whole team's decision po.
16:32Actually my freshman year po, I never imagined na pwede akong maging captain.
16:37Kasi ano po eh, syempre po, language barrier first of all.
16:42And I'm the kind of person po usually na I just like to observe more po
16:49than speak what's on my mind po.
16:52So being a captain po, that's like one of the hardest things that I have to do.
16:58At least kasi po na, hindi po yun yung personality ko eh.
17:01But at the same time po, I needed to do it because I needed to improve that side po ng character ko po.
17:09And I'm very thankful po na nagtiwala po sila sakin as their captain po last year, last season.
17:17But unfortunately nga po, right after po I was elected as a captain po, na-injured po ako.
17:24Okay.
17:25Okay.
17:27Ito medyo, hindi naman kasi medyo fresh po eh.
17:30Just last year, you know, you got the injury.
17:35Is this your first or was that your first major injury?
17:38Yes po, first major injury.
17:40First major.
17:41Actually, usually po, nag-cramps lang po ako.
17:43Yun palang, yung experience mo ng injury.
17:45Yes po.
17:46Wow, okay.
17:47So this is an ACL injury that you needed to overcome.
17:50Sige.
17:51That moment, I know it's a little bit painful.
17:55But can you describe to us, just for a little bit, nung naramdaman mo na na, okay, this is bad.
18:03What was that like for you?
18:05Ano po eh, nung pag-atras ko po, I heard something po na nag-pop.
18:09Plant entering.
18:10So never ko po na-experience yun eh.
18:13Tapos po, nung nasa ground na po ako, nasa strip na po ako, tinatry ko pong galawin yung knee ko po.
18:20Hindi po siya, hindi po same po yung...
18:23Infection.
18:24Yung infection po.
18:25So that moment po, I realized po na it's actually something really bad po.
18:31And ang una po talagang pumasok sa isip ko is the qualifying year po.
18:36The whole year.
18:37Kasi po, for fencing po, the qualifying tournaments started April 2023 up to April 2024 po.
18:47So yun po talaga yung...
18:49And dun po yung mga competitions po for you to be able to gain points po to make it to Paris.
18:55Wow. Okay. Ang hirap nun.
18:57And then, for sure your road to recovery was painful.
19:03Okay.
19:04How many months exactly before you got back to the game?
19:08Ano po, I think after seven and a half months po, I started fencing again.
19:13That's fast.
19:14A business plan.
19:15Kasi usually, when you have ACL injuries, you got five months to recover.
19:19And then, ginagawa na nila six ngayon for you to get return to play.
19:25And then for every month that you spend training and not going through contact,
19:30it lessens your injury recurrence by 33%.
19:34It's one of the talks that I attended.
19:37Yun yung sinasabi nila understudy.
19:38So for total, full participation, full speed, nine months.
19:43And then for your neural, medyo science, pero yung totally you will feel like yourself.
19:48It takes two years.
19:49Pero for elite level athletes to come back as fast as that,
19:53and with the sports medicine that your school has, it's fast.
19:58And now you're an Olympian.
20:00Okay. Okay, Sam.
20:04I saw one of your posts, yung nagri-rehab ko.
20:06Actually, the very beginning of your rehab, I think that was your first rehab session.
20:12I forget what you posted, but I like the quote that came with it.
20:17Did it make you like a tougher person?
20:23You know, your whole recovery process for this,
20:27did you come out as a tougher and a better person afterwards?
20:31Oo naman po, kasi hindi ko po na-experience na may experience ko po yung ganoon kind ng situation po.
20:40Kasi from me po doing everything everyday, having morning practice and evening practice,
20:46to trying to teach myself how to walk,
20:49and yun lang po yung exercise ko everyday to try to activate my muscle,
20:55yun lang po talaga for almost two months po, ganoon po yung nagiging routine ko lang.
21:02So walking, biking.
21:05So mas, ano po talaga eh, tinulungan akong mas maging patience po talaga.
21:11And at the same time po, to really trust the progress po,
21:15and na wala, hindi ka po talaga pwedeng tumalun.
21:19So every time po, kailangan talaga ma-experience mo even the very little thing po ng progress.
21:30Yeah, that was kumbaga the highest of highest and the lowest of lowest in your career na pagdaanan mo na.
21:38What was your very first experience in fencing like after?
21:43Yung talagang...
21:45Bumalik ka sa competition.
21:46Bumalik ka sa competition.
21:49Gusto malino ka na ba maglaro?
21:51Ganoon ba yun? Sige, kuwenta mo sa amin.
21:53Actually po, I started fencing around, I think beginning of Feb po.
21:57And then my first tournament po was last week ng Feb.
22:0024?
22:02So, pinoosh po talaga namin.
22:05Actually po, ang sabi po ni Doc kanila sa akin dito sa Philippines, wag ka mag NCAA.
22:10Pero mabilit po talaga ako.
22:12Sabi ko, kaya po, kaya po Doc, ganoon.
22:14Tapos nagsisend po ako ng mga videos, ganoon.
22:18So where did you get your procedure done? Dito?
22:20Dito po.
22:21Dito, kay Doc C?
22:22Kay Doc C po, kay Doc C.
22:23So dito mo pinagawa yung arthroscopy and then you did your rehab there?
22:25Opo. So nag-rehab po ako dito for a month and a half po until I'm able to walk po and travel.
22:31Opo. And then po, sa U.S. na po ako.
22:34So sa U.S. na binend yung tuhod mo na po yung sumigaw ka na?
22:38Opo.
22:39So kamusta yung first competition mo na yan? Nung pagkakabalik mo?
22:42Actually po, nung nagstart po ako magfencing, natatakot po ako umatras talaga.
22:48Kasi ano po eh, ano po ako eh, na-injured po ako while going back.
22:53And I'm a defensive player po.
22:55So for me, for the fact po na hindi ako maka-atras, that was very, very frustrating.
23:01That's the base of your game.
23:02Opo. Kasi yun po yung strength ko eh.
23:04But at the same time po, actually natulungan po ako to improve my attack more and to be more confident po talaga.
23:12And right now po actually, I think po, I fenced smarter than before.
23:16Kasi po ngayon hindi pa rin po ako, ano po eh, hindi pa rin po ako 100% back po talaga when it comes to physical strength po.
23:25Kasi po, even po nung qualifying tournament, naka-functional brace po ako eh.
23:30So meron ka pang stair-ups and meron ka pang stabilizers.
23:33Opo.
23:34So how long was your, kailan ka inoperahan?
23:37Inoperahan po ako June 9 po.
23:39June 9, 23?
23:4023 po, yes po.
23:42So yung April po, yun po talaga yung 10 months.
23:45Ay, you're an animal.
23:47I think the fact that you are an Olympian now justifies that you have successfully made the long road back from injury to returning to top form.
23:58Let's talk about April 27, 2024.
24:01I was reading about your dramatic comeback to qualify and make it to the Olympics in Paris.
24:08You were in the United Arab Emirates.
24:10Kalaban mo tiga Kazakhstan.
24:12You were down 12 to 13.
24:14Time out 13 all.
24:16What was going through your mind na, you know, this is it.
24:20It's crunch time.
24:21This is my shot to make it to the Olympics and make history.
24:25And the 32-year drought.
24:27What was going through your mind during that moment?
24:29Dagdaga ko lang, Anton.
24:30You got cramps.
24:31In that whole thing, right?
24:34Okay, sige, go ahead.
24:35So actually po, coming to that tournament po, I was very, very stressed po.
24:39Mga two weeks before po, talagang di na po talaga ako mapakali.
24:43And then for some reason po, when I arrived po sa venue, parang nag-stress-free po talaga lahat.
24:50Kasi I realized po, how grateful and blessed I am to be there po.
24:54Kasi 10 months ago, naisip ko po kung ano po yung journey na pinagdaanan ko.
25:01And we didn't even realize, hindi po namin inakala na makakaabot po ako for that tournament eh.
25:07So for me po, to make it in that tournament po, sobrang grateful po talaga ako.
25:13And for me po, to make it sa final bout po talaga, grabe po.
25:19So yung finals match po, of course very stressful po.
25:25But at the same time po, nag-enjoy po talaga ako during the match eh.
25:31But yung referee po, sobrang biased po talaga siya dun po sa opponent ko po.
25:39So even when we started the bout po, naka-saber po yung event.
25:44Which ibang weapon po, and I'm a foil fencer po.
25:47So yung saber po, ahampasan lang po yun.
25:49So the first two touch po, hindi ko po na-feel na natusok niya ako.
25:53But then po, na-count po na point niya.
25:56Kasi nga po, mali po.
25:57Tas buti po tinignan ko yung machine, tas iba kong weapon.
26:00So, buti po, hindi po vinoid yung touch eh.
26:05Pero pinapalitan.
26:06Opo, pero po pinalitan.
26:08So the whole time po, the whole tournament po, enjoyable po for me.
26:13But not the finals match po.
26:15Kasi nag-start po ng gano'n eh.
26:16So very frustrating po talaga.
26:18And then, ang dami pong bad calls.
26:20I think around five bad calls po, na dapat po para sakin.
26:25And I think 13-13 po, nung na-feel ko po na parang nagkakramps na po yung back po.
26:33Nung likod po, nung duhod ko.
26:35Actually, I think po, ano po ay-add?
26:37Muscle strain po talaga siya.
26:40Dahil po sa brace eh.
26:42So pinipigilan po mag-function yung hamstrings ko po.
26:47So, yun po.
26:48So nung nag-13-13 po, I had to take a medical break for five minutes.
26:54And umiiyak na po talaga ako.
26:56Kasi nasa isip ko po, I can win this bout.
27:01But I have no control with the referee and his decision.
27:06So no matter what, even though I know I can make it,
27:10hindi po talaga nasa sakin yung decision.
27:15So I tried po as much as possible to focus.
27:18And talaga pong ignore po the noises around me.
27:23Kasi po kahit yung mga audience po na nanonood talagang,
27:27medyo maririlig mo po na even them po were really surprised about what was happening.
27:33The score ended 15-14.
27:36How good did that feel?
27:37Against all odds ka, biased referee sa kalaban,
27:41pati yung crowd against sayo.
27:43How did that feel that you won in dramatic fashion?
27:48Ano po, hindi po talaga akong makapaniwala.
27:51I became really, really emotional po.
27:53Kasi po, first of all po, hindi po ako attacker as offenser.
27:57And my last action po was an attack.
28:00So grabe po talaga, sobrang naging emotional po ako.
28:04Dahil first of all po, yung referee po.
28:09And second of all po, ten months ago,
28:12hindi po namin inakala na makakaabot ako in that qualifying tournament.
28:17And yung pangat po, syempre,
28:20matagal po namin pinapangarap po na bumalik po sa Olympics fencing po,
28:27and specially po to represent Philippines po in the world biggest stage.
28:32So isa po yun, isa sa mga pangarap po namin mga Filipino fencer po dito sa Philippines.
28:41And talaga pong unang pumasok po sa isip ko talaga,
28:45na phrase is, we made it.
28:47And I just started crying na po talaga.
28:50Wow.
28:51First off, congratulations.
28:52Thank you so much.
28:53Ako nakifili namin yung emotion eh.
28:5632 years is a long time.
28:58I mean, the last time was Walter Torres, Barcelona, Spain.
29:02Si Sir Stephen Fernandez nag-compete pa doon.
29:04The Dream Team competed.
29:06So that's ages ago.
29:09Grabe ka naman, that's how old I am.
29:1132.
29:14Ito naman, Sam, of course, you're the first Filipino fencer in 32 years to make it to the Olympics,
29:20but you're the first Filipina ever to make it.
29:25How special is that for you?
29:29Actually, up until now, it's a very surreal feeling po.
29:33Hindi po talaga ako makapaniwala na nakapasok po ako sa Olympics.
29:37I think ma-realize ko lang po,
29:39pag nasa actual tournament na po talaga ako.
29:43But, of course, above anything else,
29:46I'm very grateful na nakapasok po ang Philippine fencing sa Paris 2024.
29:55And of course, hindi ko naman ito magagawa without the help and the support
30:00of the whole fencing community dito sa Pilipinas.
30:03And of course po, may second family po sa U.S., yung buong Penn State fencing team po.
30:09You know what, I just realized here, there was so much noise, of course, at that time as well.
30:15Alam mo yan, Sam. I don't even need to bring it up.
30:18So much noise surrounding the fencing world here in the Philippines.
30:22Pero ang ganda nung naririnig natin mula kay Sam, kasi may sarili na siyang problema.
30:29Mayroon na siyang mental battles from her road to recovery,
30:34to being competitive again, to qualifying.
30:38Tapos nadadagdagan pa nung mga external noise na yan.
30:42So it's just great to kind of give our audience a perspective on what you guys go through.
30:49Lalo na you're competing at this level.
30:53And in the future, hopefully, we can lessen the noise and let them focus on aircraft.
30:58So how old are you now, Sam?
31:0022 po.
31:01So tatlong Olympic cycle pa yan. Hanggang 40 siya magko-compete.
31:06Actually, ang peak po ng isang fencer po, mga around early 30s pa.
31:12So, 4, 4 o 5?
31:14Hopefully po, pwede po.
31:156, 6 pa.
31:16In the shoot natin, if all is after her injury, everything continues as planned.
31:24So we're looking at a build-up for Philippine fencing, and you're the poster girl for it.
31:30Sam, I wanna know, as a first-time Olympian, what are your goals?
31:36Kasi syempre, ayan na, nandito na tayo. Let's dream bigger, let's aim higher.
31:42Ano yung mga immediate goals mo na pumasok sa isip mo?
31:45Syempre po, ano naman po, like in every tournaments,
31:51I just always want to compete at the highest level I could.
31:55And syempre po, right now, we're gonna try to prepare kung hanggang saan po namin kaya.
32:06And we're gonna try to train with the best of the best.
32:09Even in Europe, pupunta kami to train sa mga iba pong fencers.
32:17And of course po, my goal is just to compete at my highest level.
32:21Kasi syempre po, considering nga po na I came from an injury,
32:26medyo hindi pa rin po same yung confidence na meron ako po when it comes to fencing.
32:33But at the same time po, nothing is impossible.
32:36Hindi ko nga po akalain na makakapasok po ako this coming Olympics.
32:40So maybe po, hopefully po, by God's grace po, makakuha po ng medal.
32:46Parang yung approach niya noong freshman siya sa NCAA.
32:50Just compete.
32:51Just compete.
32:52No knowledge of your opponents. Ikaw bahala.
32:56Hindi dinamit niya underdog mentality sa fencing.
33:05Mga kapuso, we have arrived at the part of our show where we ask our guest his or her favorite athlete of all time.
33:13Or, as we like to say here on the show, F.O.A.T.
33:18So Sam Catantan, who is your favorite athlete of all time?
33:23Lee Heifer po from the U.S. She's also a fencer.
33:27Filipino-American fencer.
33:30Bakit siya?
33:32Kasi po, at a very young age po, she was able to qualify po in the Olympics.
33:37I think senior high school po yung first Olympics niya.
33:41And last Olympics po, she was able to get the gold medal for the U.S.
33:46Okay.
33:47How do you think you would fare against her in a match?
33:53Who would win? What would the score be?
33:56Have you met her?
33:57Yes po.
33:58You've met her?
33:59Opo. Actually, magkakilala po kami.
34:01And she's very nice po to all Filipino athletes po, actually.
34:04Okay.
34:05And she considers po, like, her heritage po talaga.
34:08Opo. Pag nakalaban mo siya, sabi niya.
34:11Syempre po, lalaban.
34:15And every match naman po, it's always a 50-50.
34:19Laban lang.
34:21So it's a toss-up?
34:22Yes po, it's a toss-up.
34:24Well, you did speak about confidence earlier.
34:26Sinabi mo yun, confidence, yun yung na-feel mo sa ibang ma-athletes from other countries.
34:31So it's good that you have that confidence, even against your idol.
34:35Oo nga e.
34:36Kamusta yung first encounter nyo?
34:38Syempre, you look up to her.
34:41Kailan mo siya na-meet?
34:43Actually, I think first time po na-meet ko siya sa isang World Cup po.
34:48Pero po, hindi po kami nag-usap.
34:50And then for some reason po, nung freshman year ko po,
34:54nagkita po kami sa isang tournament, and nasa airport po kami,
34:58and tinawag niya po yung pangalan ko.
35:00So sobrang grabe po talaga.
35:02Parang kinilig talaga ako nang tinawag niya ako.
35:05Kasi parang nakita niya po yung fencing bag ko, and nag-aantay po ako.
35:10So never po kami actually nag,
35:12Hello, I'm Sam.
35:13And then she's...
35:15Yun palang yung encounter nyo?
35:16Yun palang po.
35:17Pero po, from time to time po, magko-congrats po siya,
35:21and magbe-message po siya.
35:22So mabait, mabait po talaga.
35:24Teka, Phil, pero dun siya lumaki?
35:26Opo, din po siya lumaki.
35:27Dun siya lumaki.
35:29San siya nag-college?
35:30Notre Dame po.
35:31Notre Dame.
35:33The powerhouse po.
35:34Talaga?
35:35Ngayon po, very dominant po sila.
35:37Sila yung dominante, okay.
35:39Itong kwento na to yung work hard until your rivals become your friends.
35:45Wait, how old is she now?
35:47Early thirties po.
35:48Early thirties.
35:49So outside fencing, sino yung paborita mong atleta?
35:54Siyempre po, right now po, si ate Heidlin Diaz po talaga.
35:59Our first Olympic gold medalist po,
36:01and yung journey po niya talaga to be able to get there.
36:05Very inspiring po.
36:07Ikaw ba nakikita mo yung sarili mo na having that kind of moment as well,
36:11like Heidlin?
36:12Oo naman po, that's an every athlete's dream po talaga.
36:17Okay.
36:18So from that, let's go to a light segment here, Sam.
36:22Okay, special segment po.
36:23Favorites mo, mga favorites mo.
36:25We'll give you a topic and then sabi mo samin yung favorite mo.
36:29Light lang to.
36:31Steady lang, steady lang.
36:32Sabi mo naman, nabanggit mo na rin naman organically yung love life mo.
36:36So okay na yun, that's out of the way already.
36:38I'm kidding.
36:39Okay.
36:40So, Sam.
36:42Ito, ano yun natin ah, ethos natin.
36:45School subject sa fencing.
36:47Ito, ano yun natin ah, ethos natin.
36:50School subject sa fencing.
36:53My favorite?
36:54Favorite subject?
36:55Accounting.
36:56What?
36:58Yeah, because she's taking up a master's degree in accounting, right?
37:01If you weren't a fencer, what do you think you would be?
37:04Kasi accounting e, so syempre sobrang iba yun sa fencing.
37:08Kung hindi ka nagpe fencing, what job or occupation do you think you would have?
37:13Actually, ever since po talaga, ever, kahit po hindi pa ako nag-start my fencing,
37:18talaga po ang favorite subject ko na is math.
37:21So maybe I would go engineering, but probably still something related po talaga with math.
37:29We see something in common here because Jowani, who came in in a previous episode,
37:35sabi rin niya, Olimpia din, math din ang paborito niya.
37:40Mga Olimpia natin magaling sa math.
37:43Tanungan natin si Papi Yumer Marshall, favorite mo sa school.
37:47Sino next, Coach Yamer?
37:48Okay, since balikbayan ka and shoutout to Frisco's, what's your favorite street food?
37:54Street food?
37:56Kwek-kwek.
37:58Anong sausawan? Suka?
37:59Suka.
38:01Manghang na suka.
38:04Ganun ba kayong magkusok sa akin?
38:07In fairness, done. In fairness, done. Beautiful.
38:12At least hindi naman saber na.
38:14Witty ha, witty, witty.
38:16In fairness, done. Okay.
38:19Nicely done, nicely done.
38:22Sige, gusto ko dalawa, sagot mo dito.
38:26Philippine destination, and so far, your favorite place in the U.S.?
38:31Actually, hindi ko pa po. Gusto ko pong makapunta sa Utah po.
38:36Utah?
38:37To see the Grand Canyon po.
38:40You mean Arizona?
38:41Arizona po ba, the Grand Canyon? Okay po, Arizona po. Yeah, dun po.
38:45Pero hindi ko po ako nakapunta eh, so.
38:47Actually, may dalawang side yung, may Arizona, mayroong, malapit-malapit sa Nevada side.
38:53Nakagaling kang Vegas, so anyway.
38:55So, gusto mo mapuntahan yung Grand Canyon? Local naman, Philippines.
38:59Batanes po.
39:00Batanes.
39:03Okay. Have you been to Philly? I mean, it's near...
39:07Opo.
39:08Okay.
39:09I hate Philly po.
39:10Why? Why? Why?
39:14No, the city po, the city.
39:16Now this conversation just got a lot more interesting.
39:20Why? Why? How come?
39:21Martin's been to Philadelphia, I've been to Philadelphia.
39:24I've been there.
39:25Okay.
39:26Bakit? Bakit? Bakit? Bakit?
39:28The areas I've been po, it's just very scary po.
39:32Okay, South Philly siguro napuntahan mo, South Philly.
39:35Kasi it's closer to Pennsylvania.
39:37Yes po.
39:38Okay.
39:39And usually po, sa mga tournaments po namin, hindi po talaga.
39:42At the most, at the rowdiest crowd kasi.
39:45They have the rowdiest crowd in sports.
39:47And if you're beating Temple, ano po ba ang school na nasa Philly area,
39:53yung mga, nasa St. Joseph's, kapag yan yung mga kalaban mo,
39:56tapos home team.
39:57Yummy.
39:59We're not throwing shade on Philadelphia.
40:02Okay.
40:03Actually, the reason I wanted to ask was that, obviously, you like food, right?
40:08Do you like cheesesteaks?
40:10Not really.
40:11Not really.
40:13Well, I guess my question goes out the window.
40:17I was gonna ask Pat's King of Steaks or Gino's.
40:24I'm a Pat's guy.
40:26I like how she actually said it.
40:28That's the first thing that she said.
40:30I hate Philly.
40:31Okay.
40:32I don't like it.
40:33Pero para yung idea.
40:34On the down low, I hate Philly.
40:35Medyo rin ang down low.
40:36Talaga po, hindi na-relate.
40:37It's the crowd kasi.
40:39Kasi pagbuhugan ako dun competition.
40:41Exactly.
40:42So if you're playing against the home team, you would hate Philly.
40:47I love it.
40:48Okay.
40:49Coach Albert.
40:50Okay.
40:52Other than fencing and training, what do you do on your downtime?
40:57I watch Netflix.
41:00And usually, sometimes, I read.
41:02Pero usually, it takes me forever to finish a book.
41:07Follow-up question.
41:09What's your binge-watch?
41:11Anong mga nasa list mo?
41:15Actually, I want to re-watch Game of Thrones.
41:19It's the best series mo, I think.
41:23Game of Thrones.
41:24That's a long re-watch though.
41:26And I think they just released a new episode of House of Dragons.
41:30Season 2.
41:31Season 2 po.
41:32So, looking forward to that.
41:34Medyo matagal ang hintayin natin sa season 2 ng House of the Dragon.
41:39May time ganunin in-between trainings.
41:41To at least get two episodes in.
41:44Any favorite movies?
41:48Favorite films para sa'yo.
41:50Tagalog.
41:52Isang Pinoy film.
41:53Nanonood ko pa ba ng Pinoy films?
41:55Opo naman.
41:56Nanonood ka pa.
41:57Nanonood pa.
41:58Tsaka isang Hollywood foreign.
42:02Movies po, I think Real Steel.
42:06Hugh Jackman.
42:07Yes.
42:08Parent and Child.
42:09What?
42:10That's a surprising answer.
42:12Miss Kapantan.
42:15That was a badass film though.
42:17Wow, Real Steel.
42:19I could watch that movie again and again.
42:21I actually almost cried in that movie.
42:25Okay, bakit?
42:28There's a dramatic part there.
42:30Gusto ko i-associate na yung foil, yung espada ni Sammy, yung robot niya.
42:37Siya yung nagkocontrol dun eh.
42:39Okay, anyway.
42:40Next, Filipino film.
42:42Probably, It Takes a Man and a Woman.
42:45Sarah G.
42:46Yes.
42:48Rom-com, yes.
42:53If you could have any superpower, what would you choose and what would you use that superpower for?
43:02Probably, wait, how do you say it?
43:05If you can travel time.
43:07Time travel.
43:08Yes, time travel.
43:12Syempre po, of course, there are certain experiences po that you want to experience again sometime.
43:19So, you would want to go back in that time.
43:23Time travel is different from teleportation.
43:25Teleportation is one place to another.
43:27I think time travel po is what I meant.
43:30Nightcrawler and then Bishop and Cable.
43:35Bishop dapat Pinoy daw.
43:37Gusto mo lang mag-time travel dun sa certain experiences mo.
43:41Wala ka naman gustong period in time na I wish, sana na nasa 70s ako, nasa 60s ako, nasa dinosaur age ako.
43:55Dinosaur age, okay.
43:56Wala naman.
43:57Wala naman po.
43:59Coach.
44:00Okay, so you're going with your mom to Paris.
44:04Ano yung gusto mong ipasalubong naman pagbalik mo sa Pilipinas to your dad?
44:12Syempre po, a medal po.
44:14Syempre, for my parents po.
44:17Syempre, yes po, that's the best pasalubong.
44:20May isa lang akong follow-up question.
44:21May isang follow-up question.
44:23Where would you go on that date sa France after the Olympics with your boyfriend?
44:29Kasi kasama yung boyfriend tsaka yung parent eh.
44:31So where do you want to have?
44:32Let's say one dinner.
44:33You know what, I did not expect this from Coach Hammer.
44:35That's actually the best question he's asked in the whole existence of the podcast.
44:40Actually, probably po, just a nice breakfast po outside a typical French street po.
44:49Kasi usually po, dak coffee, croissant, and kwentuhan po.
44:56Yan po talaga ang isa sa mga the best.
45:00Let's say nasa Paris na kayo diba, pagkatapos ang Olympics.
45:05Alam mo, pagdinala ka na paggabi, tapos, can you dress up tonight?
45:13Alam mo na yan, pagdinala ka na sa restaurant katapat ng Eiffel Tower.
45:16Kaya hindi natin ipaprem.
45:19Wala lang.
45:21City of love, diba?
45:23Bata pa po.
45:25Sabi ni Sam, bata pa ba?
45:27Nakakapaganda.
45:28Narating yan.
45:29Narating.
45:30Pero Sam, you're 22, right?
45:32So you're still part of the Gen Z era.
45:35Gen Z pa rin.
45:37Sige.
45:39What's your favorite app in your phone?
45:41Instagram.
45:42Oh, Instagram.
45:43I like it.
45:44Nice.
45:45Instagram.
45:46Because I feel like Instagram, millennials will pick this.
45:50Kasi syempre yun yung sumikat nung generation.
45:53Nung time namin.
45:55Pero bakit Instagram para sa'yo?
45:57Ano po eh?
45:58Photos po and just a random video po from different people.
46:02Tell a story po.
46:03And that's really interesting po.
46:05Gusto ko malaman, lasa lang.
46:07Any sport?
46:08Do you watch sports other than fencing?
46:11Opo, minsan.
46:12Ano pinapanood mo?
46:13Basketball, volleyball.
46:16And right now po, sa U.S., football po.
46:19NFL.
46:20Sige.
46:21NFL?
46:22Let's go there.
46:23Let's go there.
46:25College, college, college.
46:27So what do you think about James Franklin?
46:31Is he a fun guy?
46:32What's your favorite sports team?
46:36I would say Penn State football team.
46:39Yeah!
46:40Like a Marshall, Saquon Barkley.
46:43I like that.
46:44I like that.
46:45We have the best crowd.
46:46I'm not gonna lie.
46:47Actually.
46:51I think the shoe has something to say about it.
46:54I'm just gonna cut it short.
46:55Because I also want our viewers to know.
46:58Because Penn State is a top-notch program.
47:01You know, you got all the facilities there.
47:03You got the gear.
47:06I don't wanna compare, but.
47:10How was your equipment when you got there?
47:14Night and day.
47:15I'll answer that for you.
47:16Night and day.
47:17Because everything is provided, right?
47:20And you get the D1 experience.
47:22Okay.
47:23Describe to us how surprised were you?
47:28When you saw everything complete.
47:32Your shower, your facilities, your gym.
47:36How would you describe the very first time that you learned about all of those?
47:43I never researched anything about Penn State.
47:49So it was very surprising to me.
47:51The moment we drove to the campus.
47:54I saw the football stadium.
47:56You saw the statue of Joe Paterno.
47:59Right in front when you enter the campus.
48:01Right there.
48:02That's the first thing that you would see.
48:05And then, of course, the gears.
48:07Actually, when they first gave it to me.
48:09I thought that was my supply for the four years that I would stay at Penn State.
48:15That was just the semester.
48:17Yes.
48:18We were really spoiled.
48:19When it comes to gears.
48:21And you just need to ask and they will give you more.
48:25Wow.
48:26And the reason why this is significant.
48:28Is because here in the Philippines, how many fencing gear shops are there?
48:33Now, maybe two or three.
48:35But before, when I was young, there was only one.
48:39I had a very short fencing era.
48:41And during that time, there was only one store.
48:45You know what? Anton could have been an Olympian.
48:47No.
48:48No.
48:50If he started early.
48:51If he started early.
48:52If he started early.
48:53When he was nine.
48:55How many years did you fence, partner?
48:57How many years did you try?
48:58I don't know.
48:5928?
49:00Wait.
49:01I don't know.
49:02That's right.
49:04Shout out to Rafael Andriano.
49:05He was the coach.
49:08Okay.
49:09What's your favorite pizza topping?
49:10What's your favorite pizza topping?
49:12Probably just cheese.
49:14Different kinds of cheese.
49:15Cheese.
49:16Classic.
49:17We're already on pizza.
49:18We're going to America.
49:20What's the best pizza or where's the best pizza for you in the U.S.?
49:26New York.
49:27Definitely New York.
49:28Okay.
49:30Okay.
49:31This one I want to ask.
49:32Because, you know, I'm laughing at you.
49:34Because throughout this interview, I saw that you're really trying to speak Tagalog.
49:39Despite the fact that, you know, you're already Americanized, so to speak.
49:44What was the expression that you added when you started, you know, trying to fit in with
49:50the Americans, the people in the States?
49:53Because, right?
49:54Some people suddenly have a like.
49:56Like.
49:57Parang.
49:58You know.
49:59You.
50:00What did you realize that, hey, this is something that I added to my vocabulary?
50:04I always mention the word like.
50:08And sometimes I don't want to listen to other people's interviews.
50:12Really?
50:13Because why would I add that to my vocabulary?
50:15Just like that?
50:16Yes.
50:17Have they ever mistaken you for a Cali girl?
50:20Right?
50:21They said, isn't that how it is in California?
50:24You know.
50:25They didn't mistake you for...
50:28Not really.
50:29But for some reason, they were very surprised that we know how to speak English.
50:34Filipinos.
50:35And that it's not hard for us to understand.
50:38And our accent is not as strong.
50:40Not as strong.
50:41Not as strong.
50:42Especially in the East Coast.
50:43Because in the West Coast, they're used to having an accent.
50:46The others, when they come back here in the Philippines, you know.
50:50You know.
50:51No.
50:53I can't do that.
50:55But to be fair, you didn't like this interview.
50:58There wasn't much.
50:59Yeah, I know.
51:00That's why I'm impressed.
51:02There wasn't much.
51:03Good for you.
51:04Like.
51:05I'll do it later at the end.
51:07Like.
51:08Okay.
51:10Of all the gear that was given to you, your favorite piece of team gear that you got from Penn State?
51:16Probably their hoodies.
51:18Meta ni Lions.
51:19Yes.
51:20Navy blue.
51:21Navy blue, yeah.
51:22Navy blue with a big swoosh on it.
51:24Big check.
51:25Outside Penn State.
51:26Probably a hat.
51:28Like a regular hat.
51:30I don't want to get sunburn on my face.
51:34Correct.
51:35Especially here in this hot weather.
51:36Right?
51:37Full of sun.
51:38Hot welcome to Ms. Sam Catantan.
51:41Sam mentioned their hoodie in Penn State, right?
51:44The one with the logo.
51:45Sam, maybe.
51:47Maybe.
51:49The hoodie is not going anywhere.
51:51Maybe.
51:52We'll see.
51:53My dears, thank you so much.
51:57To our very first Olympian female fencer, Ms. Sam Catantan.
52:02Thank you.
52:03Sam, okay.
52:04Any shoutouts you want to do here since you're here already?
52:06A lot of people will hear this.
52:08Your countrymen.
52:11Just here, right?
52:13On the freeze coast.
52:14On the freeze coast.
52:15Okay.
52:16You can greet them all.
52:18Just a shoutout to my family, of course.
52:21To the Catantan family.
52:23And to my friends and teammates who are always there for me.
52:28I love you all so much.
52:30Aww.
52:31Sam, how do they follow you online?
52:34Because a lot of people are interested.
52:37What are your moves to the Olympics?
52:40How do they follow you online?
52:42Instagram.
52:43Sam Catantan.
52:44Sam Catantan.
52:45Okay.
52:46That's your favorite IG.
52:47Sam Catantan.
52:49Thank you so much.
52:50Thank you so much.
52:51My dears, that ends another fruitful, very productive conversation
52:55with a legend in the making right here in Philippine sports.
53:00Ms. Sam Catantan, the very first female fencer to qualify for the Olympics
53:05and the first fencer in 32 years representing the Philippines
53:10to qualify in the Paris Olympics.
53:13Thank you so much.
53:14That was such an interesting conversation.
53:17I hope it inspired everybody here, especially the kids who are listening
53:22and watching us now who also want to try fencing.
53:26Interested in fencing?
53:27Try fencing.
53:29This is where you can go.
53:31Thank you as well to our viewers and our listeners for supporting us.
53:35You guys can find us on different platforms.
53:38Facebook, YouTube, Spotify.
53:41Please continue to support us.
53:43And for more inspiring sit-downs with some of the most accomplished
53:47and popular sports personalities in the Philippines,
53:51tap in, like, and subscribe.
53:54GMA Sports PH.
53:55My name is Anton Rojas.
53:56As always, maraming salamat, mga kapuso, sa inyong panonood.
54:00Do catch and support the other GMA podcasts on Apple and on Spotify.
54:05Ako po si Coach Hammer, Martin Antonio.
54:07And this has been Martin Ovier.
54:09Thank you for watching...
54:11Game On! The Podcast!
54:26.