Nesthy Petecio may look to complete the Olympic medals with a golden finish in LA 2028. But by then, the Pinay boxer will be 36 years old.

Nesthy Petecio will be contemplating hard on whether she will gun for another Olympic run in LA 2028. | Photo (c) Cignal TV

If Nesthy Petecio had her way, she would quickly want to compete once more for the gold medal in the Olympic Games.

But like any athlete, time and age will catch up.

Petecio herself hinted that Paris 2024 could be her last.

“I am so blessed. This is very important for me because maybe this is my last Olympics,” Petecio told Olympics.com after qualifying for Paris 2024 last March.

By 2028, Petecio will be 36 years old should she decide to have one last crack at the gold. For now, the Davao Del Sur native is keeping her doors open to whatever may come in the future.

“Sa LA po, medyo may ka-edadan na po tayo. Nasa 36 na po ata ako that time. Depende pero lagi kasing may hugot pa sa puso ko na yung ginto po talaga,” Petecio told One PH’s Sa Totoo Lang on Friday, August 9.

“Medyo mahaba-haba pa po ‘yung four years, so baka may changes pa po. Pero di pa din po natatapos yung mission ko, ‘yung goal ko na kung bibigyan ako ulit ng chance na kunin yung ginto po,” she added.

There’s even a bigger question up in the air–on whether boxing will be included at all in LA 2028. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had called on national boxing federations to form a new international federation if they want the sport to be included.

The IOC set up a unit to organize the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 editions of the boxing tournament, after stripping the International Boxing Association (IBA) of recognition due to alleged corruption scandals.

Despite falling short in Paris 2024, Petecio is still grateful to have brought home a bronze medal, becoming the third Filipino to win a medal in two straight Olympics.

Petecio joins swimmer Teofilo Yldefonso, the first Filipino and Southeast Asian to win an Olympic medal in 1928 and 1932, and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo, who bagged silver in Rio 2016 and brought home the country’s first gold in Tokyo 2020.

“Pinaka-proud ‘yung maging isang two-time Olympian medalist, back to back two-time medalist sa Olympics,” said Petecio.

“Hindi man ginto yung nauwi ko pero ‘yung mga blessing na binibigay ni Lord sa akin, sobra sa ginto pa itong natatamo ko ngayon na nadala ko yung partner ko dito, nadala ko yung kapatid ko, kasama siya, nakapanaod,” she added.

For now, Petecio looks to enjoy some rest and relaxation with her girlfriend and family in Paris.

“Pagkatapos ng engagement [namin], punta kaming Eiffel Tower. Eyyyy,” Petecio ended.