SAM Catantan underwent another surgery to repair an left ACL tear she sustained during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Catantan had the surgery at St. Luke’s Hospital in Taguig City, weeks after she suffered the injury in her first match in the Olympics against Mariana Pistoia of Brazil.
It was the same injury she suffered during the 2023 Southeast Asian Games that forced her to withdraw from her gold-medal match in the women’s individual foil.
READ Sam Catantan's brave stand not enough vs world No. 2 Errigo
Catantan admitted she wasn’t fully healed from her first surgery but decided to return to action as she wanted to qualify for the Olympics.
“Usually, 10 to 12 months but for this year, I had to fence after eight months of surgery kasi I was trying to prepare for the Olympic qualifying,” said Catantan days prior to the surgery.
Catantan heard a pop when she got hurt against Pistoia but still went on to take the victory over Pistoia, 15-13. She put on a gallant battle in her next bout before dropping a 15-12 defeat to world No. 2 Arianna Errigo of Brazil.
“Actually, during my first match, I was very distracted with the whole thing. It was my first Olympics, grabe ‘yung crowd. May big screen po right in front of me while I was fencing,” said Catantan.
“Nung may nag-pop na po, for some reason, I was able to just focus on my opponent. Dun po ako nakabalik. I was able to get more points and eventually win the match,” she said.
“My next match was a struggle. Hindi na po ako gaano uma-attack. Puro second intention na lang po kasi hindi ko na kaya i-push ‘yung back leg ko. Kapag nagse-second intention po ako, mas malapit po ‘yung distance. I’m able to do forward and not lodge and to hit,” said Catantan.
Catantan said she intends to make sure that the knee is completely healed before returning to action with the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in mind.
“Right now, I have enough time for the Southeast Asian Games next year. I’m going to take the full recovery period,” said Catantan.
“I still have one year eligibility in the NCAA in the US,” she added.
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