Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 3) – Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Nesthy Petecio dedicated her feat to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community.
“I am proud to be part of the LGBTQ community. Sulong, laban! (Let’s go, fight!) This fight is also for the LGBTQ community,” Petecio said in her post-fight press conference.
During the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association Forum, Petecio admitted having second thoughts about dedicating her win to the LGBTQIA+ community for fear of being bashed online.
“Sobrang proud po ako bilang member ng LGBT community, hindi ko po tinatanggi ‘yun,” Petecio said.
[Translation: I am a proud member of the LGBT community, I’m not denying that.]
The 29-year-old pride of Davao encouraged members of the LGBTQIA+ community to continue pursuing their dreams, just like what happened to her when she competed in the world’s biggest sporting competition, and winning a medal in her debut.
“Kahit anong gender natin, basta may pangarap tayo, laban po. Hayaan mo yung mga taong may mangda-down sa’yo, kung ano ang sasabihin nila,” Petecio said.
[Translation: Regardless of your gender, if you have a dream, fight for it. Don’t mind other people who look down on you or say something against you.]
Petecio ended the country’s 25-year Olympic medal drought in boxing on Tuesday. Onyok Velasco was the last to win in 1996 in Atlanta, also with a silver medal.
She bagged the silver after losing to Japan’s Sena Irie in the gold medal bout.
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