Samantha Catantan will be seeking redemption when she competes in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games from 9 to 20 December in Thailand.

Catantan said she is almost done with her recovery from her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and expects very soon for Penn State University in her final year in the US National Collegiate Athletic Association.

She said one of her main goals in the SEA Games is to win the women’s foil gold medal after settling for a runner-up finish due to knee injury.

“Of course, I have regrets but I always look on the positive side. I believe that everything happens for a reason,” Catantan said.

“I was injured and I didn’t get the gold medal at that time. I did get the golden ticket for the Paris Olympics in 2024 so hopefully, I’m going to be strong enough and I’ll try my best to gain the strength.”

After the biennial meet, Catantan made an impact on the international stage.

She became the second Filipino fencer to qualify in the Olympics after winning the 2024 Asia-Oceanic Zonal Olympic Qualifier in the United Arab Emirates.

Then in her debut in the Summer Games, Catantan pulled off a shocker when she defeated Mariana Pistoia of Brazil, 15-13, in Round of 64 before falling short of another upset against former world champion Arianna Errigo of Italy, 12-15, in the Round of 32.

Catantan knows that she will be a marked woman so she has to do her best to prepare for the prestigious regional event.

But for now, she will focus on recovery while donning the colors of Penn State.

“Of course, there’s always pressure but I always think that the pressure that is given to me is also a privilege. I really worked hard to get to where I am right now and there’s always pressure, no matter what happens,” Catantan said.

“For me, I don’t pressure myself because, first of all, I just got injured and no matter what, I know that I really tried my best to get stronger so that I can compete at the highest level.”