No surrender

I was crying to sleep back then. I just wanted every single day to finish so that I can go home already.

NESTHY Petecio, Carlos Yulo and EJ Obiena nearly quit before shining in the world stage. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG

Star athletes Carlos Yulo of gymnastics, Nesthy Petecio of boxing and EJ Obiena of athletics were showered with adulation following their impressive runs in their respective sports over the weekend.

But behind their glowing smiles were bleeding hearts that nearly gave up.

Yulo, who claimed the gold medal in the 49th FIQ Artistic Gymnastics World Championship in Germany, admitted that he almost quit following his sorry setback in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta last year.

Competing in his first major tournament as a senior, the then 18-year-old Yulo marched with massive expectations following his numerous successes in the international arena, including a bronze medal in the 2018 Artistic Gymnastics World Championship in Doha.

But hopes turned into disappointment as he faded against the older, more experienced competitors from China, Japan and Korea.

“I almost gave up at that time because I thought I can’t handle the trainings anymore, especially since it was a Japanese coach in coach Mune (Munehiro Kugimiya),” said Yulo, who has been away from with his family as he has been training and studying in Japan for the past three years.

“I was crying to sleep back then. I just wanted every single day to finish so that I can go home already.”

The Davao-born puncher claimed that she got disheartened when she got robbed of the gold medal in the Asian Championships in 2015. She settled for the silver medal as Thai bet Peamwilai Laopeam ran away with the crown.

She suffered the same misfortune two years later when Malaysia dropped women’s boxing tournament in the 29th Southeast Asian Games.

“At that time, I felt that boxing was not really meant for me. And I thought that I should just simply finish my studies so I can have a better future,” said Petecio, who won the gold medal in the AIBA Women’s Boxing World Championship in Russia.

“When I flew to Russia for another competition, I told myself that I will not give up until I claim that gold medal.”

But the most heartwarming story came from Obiena.

Son of a pole vault great, Obiena was primed up to finally win a gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury a day before leaving for Kuala Lumpur.

But he didn’t let that setback hurdle hurt his dream as he patiently worked his way up to emerge as the 10th best pole vaulter in the world.

His hard work paid off last month when he tallied 5.81 meters in a tournament in Chiara, Italy that served as his ticket to the Tokyo Olympics next year.

Now, he’s gearing up for another edition of the SEA Games and he’s heavily expected to finally clinch the gold.

“I don’t feel any pressure. I will just go there and do my best,” said Obiena, who joins Yulo as the first Filipino in the Summer Games next year.

For their victories and never-say-die mentality, Yulo and Obiena were given P1 million each by the Philippine Sports Commission and another P1 million by the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation.

They were also set to make an appearance before President Rodrigo Duterte last night, where they stand to receive another P1 million to hike the total windfall to P3 million, enough to fulfill their dreams of finally buying a house.

“That is my dream for my family,” said Yulo, who graced the special press conference with his mother, Angelica, and father, Mark Andrew.