3 Pinoys vie in Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics

MANILA, Philippines — Three Filipino youngsters – Peter Joseph Groseclose, Avery Uriel Balbanida and Laetaz Amihan Rabe – are competing in the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic South Korea is hosting in Gangwon starting on Jan. 19.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino was delighted with the qualification of the three athletes as he stressed the consistent participation of Filipinos in the Winter Games.

“I’m proud to announce the participation of our three teenagers to the Winter Youth Olympics,” Tolentino said. “We Filipinos have defied limitations and embraced the challenges of competing in winter sports through the years.”

He added: “We’re living in a tropical country, but our spirit simply knows no boundaries. Our athletes are united in pursuing Olympic excellence and that’s also a testament to their Olympic spirit.”

Groseclose, 16, will be competing in short track of speed skating; Balbanida, 14, will be vying in cross-country of skiing; and Rabe, also 14, will be seeing action in free ski slope style and big air.

The Winter Youth Olympic Games feature athletes aged 15 to 18.

Ada Lacia Milby is the chef de mission and she’ll be accompanied to the Games by Philippine Skating Union president Nikki Cheng and Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation Secretary General Jezreel Apelar.

Groseclose, according to Cheng, qualified for Gangwon with his No. 32 ranking in the boys’ 500 meters during the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in February last year in Dresden, Germany. He will race in the 500m, 1,000m and 1,500m.