Nesthy Petecio

Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio and Poland’s Julia Szeremeta (Blue) compete in the women’s 57kg semi-final boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Roland-Garros Stadium, in Paris on August 7, 2024. (AFP)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has extended his congratulations to Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio for bagging the bronze medal in the women’s 57kg of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Petecio concluded her Olympic campaign with a heartbreaking split decision loss at the hands of Poland’s Julia Szeremeta early Thursday in the semifinal round.

Despite the loss, Marcos said the whole country is proud of Petecio’s performance.

“You’ve truly shown the world how Filipinos never back down from a challenge,” Marcos said in a social media post.

“The whole country is proud of you! Taas kamao para sa boxingerong Pilipino (Fist up for Filipino boxers),” he added.

Petecio’s bronze is the fourth medal for the Philippines in the ongoing Summer Games after Carlos Yulo’s two gold medals in men’s artistic gymnastics and Aira Villegas’ bronze in the women’s 50kg in boxing.

Petecio joins an elite group of Filipino athletes with multiple Olympic medals along with Yulo, weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, and swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso.

She won the silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (PNA)