Samantha Catantan failed to make it to the 2024 Paris Olympics women's individual foil competition's round of 16. Despite a valiant stand, Catantan fell short, 15–12, to world No. 2 Arianna Errigo of Italy in the round of 32.
Despite nursing a bad knee, the No. 266-ranked fencer Catantan bravely challenged the top-seeded fencer in a brave attempt to preserve the Philippines' first fencing appearance in 32 years at the Olympics, only to lose gas in the end.
Keeping the fight
The Penn State University fencer rallied after falling behind the 10-time World Cup champion, 0-4, early.
At the end of the first round, Errigo took the lead again, and she capitalized on this to restore a four-point advantage, 9–5, with 2:22 left in the second round.
The Italian persisted in imposing her will as the second round went on and even built an 11-6 lead.
With 1:12 remaining in Round 3, Catantan attempted to pull off an upset and move on to the Round 16, but Errigo's experience proved to be too much as the 36-year-old veteran ended the match, 15-12.
Still made history
Prior to the loss, the Filipina fencer overcame Mariana Pistoia of Brazil to advance to the Table of 32, making her the first fencer from the Philippines to win a straight-up elimination match in the Olympics.
Fencer Maxine Esteban, who was born in the Philippines and currently competes for the Ivory Coast, also lost in the round-of-32.
