DABAWENYO bemedaled multi-sport athlete Chino Sy Tancontian is one step closer to fulfilling his Olympic dream after receiving the prestigious Olympic solidarity scholarship from the International Olympic Committee, coursed through the Philippine Olympic Committee.
The scholarship provides vital financial support for elite athletes aiming to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, helping cover training expenses, international competitions, and overall athlete development.
“This is a huge help,” said the 24-year-old Tancontian. “Preparing for Olympic qualifiers is really expensive, so I’m very grateful to be chosen. Only a few athletes are selected for this, and it’s an honor to be among them.”
Tancontian received the solidarity scholarship on Olympic Day, Monday, June 23, 2025, during the inauguration of the Tagaytay City Velodrome. Present during the event were POC president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino and other POC officials. Gracing the event were 2024 Paris Olympics medalists Carlos Yulo and Davao City-born Nesthy Petecio.
Currently shifting his focus from sambo to judo, the University of Santo Tomas (UST) judoka is determined to align his efforts with Olympic standards. While he has previously represented the country in international sambo events, he shared that the shift is necessary since sambo is not yet an Olympic sport.
“Judo is recognized in the Olympics. If I want to pursue this dream, I need to give my full commitment to Judo,” he said.
This year, Tancontian is preparing for two major competitions: the World University Championship for Sambo in September and the Southeast Asian Games for judo later this year. Despite the demands of training and international competitions, he remains committed to his education.
He is in his final year in the Fitness and Sports Management program at UST. Balancing academics and athletics hasn’t been easy, but he’s managing his time carefully.
“It’s difficult, especially now that I’m close to graduation,” he said. “But I’m doing my best to stick to a schedule. I’m thankful that UST is supportive of student-athletes.”
What keeps him going, despite the sacrifices? Sy says it all comes down to one thing—the dream of becoming an Olympian.
“It’s every athlete’s dream. Now that I have this opportunity, I’m giving it everything I’ve got,” Tancontian added.
He will be arriving in Davao City for the Araw ng Parangal set on Sunday, June 29, at the SMX Convention Center. Bea C. Mangaga, Spamast Intern