Joanie Delgaco became Philippines' first female rower to qualify for the Olympics after she clinched one of the five quota places in the women’s single sculls during the World Rowing Asian
and Oceania Qualification Regatta in Chungju, South Korea last
April.
The 26-year old rower is the fourth Filipino rower Olympian following Edgardo
Maerina (1988 Seoul Games), Benjamin Tolentino Jr. (2000 Sydney Games),
and Cris Nievarez (2022 Tokyo Games).
A former setter of Camarines Sur volleyball team in Palarong Pambansa, she joined the Philippine Rowing team in 2015 and started winning medals in SEA Games where she bagged gold medal in 2019 Manila SEA Games.
She was also a finalist in the 2022 Asian Games in the women's singles sculls where she finished 5th place.
She is now training in Germany following her 8th place finish in the 7th Waistrooss Head of River Regatta in Schwebsange, Luxembourg last weekend and will return to Metz training camp in France where other Filipino Olympians are training too.
Rowing in Paris Olympics will start on July 27 where Delgaco's event, the Women's Single Sculls Heats is also scheduled. She will compete against 31 best rowers in the world.
