Joanie Delgaco poured everything she got from her Olympic experience but could only finish sixth in the final of women’s singles sculls of rowing at the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games on Thursday at the Nagaragawa International Regatta Course in Kaizu.
Delgaco clocked 8:01.63, 40 seconds after China’s Zhang Xinyu crossed for the gold medal. Uzbekistan’s Anna Prakaten claimed silver and Iran’s Fatemeh Mojallal Topraghhale took bronze.
Delgaco was thankful to have completed in the games adding she’s satisfied that she had given her best.
‘No podium, but still thankful for finishing the race,’ she said. ‘I did my best and no regrets, I gave it my best.’
The Filipina rower recalled thinking about the sacrifices and preparations that brought her to the Asian Games, including a two-and-a-half-month training camp in Germany following their initial preparations in the Philippines.
Delgaco admitted that she became emotional after the race, knowing she had given her best but still fell short of a medal, but said she believes there is a reason behind the result and hopes to bounce back in her next competition.
She also credited the support of her family, particularly her parents and siblings, for encouraging her to keep going and believe in herself.
Delgaco is now setting her sights on the next challenge: the Olympic qualification campaign next year.
‘My goal is to go for Olympic qualification,’ said the two-time SEA Games gold medalist and a Paris Olympian.