MANILA: The Philippines is gearing up for a historic push towards the 2026 Winter Olympics by sending a team of 20 athletes to the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China, scheduled from February 7 to 14. This strategic move comes on the heels of the country’s remarkable success in the Summer Olympics, where it clinched three consecutive gold medals in Paris.

According to Philippines News Agency, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino expressed the nation’s ambition to replicate its Summer Olympics achievements in the Winter Olympics. “We’ve already accomplished the dream in the Summer Olympics – three gold medals in consecutive games. And that dream we want to also achieve in the Winter Olympics,” Tolentino stated in a recent news release.

The contingent to Harbin is considered the largest the Philippines has ever assembled for the Asian Winter Games, although precise historical records are unavailable. Filipino athletes will participate in six out of the eleven sports featured in the Harbin program. The curling team, comprising Marc Angelo Pfister, Enrico Gabriel Pfister, Christian Patrick Haller, Alan Beat Frei, Jessica Pfister, Benjo Delarmente, Kathleen Dubberstein, Leilani Dubberstein, Sheila Mariano, and Anne Marie Bonache, is expected to draw significant attention.

The Curling Winter Sports of the Philippines, recently established, has joined forces with the Philippine Skating Union and the Philippine Ski and Snowboarding Association under the POC framework. Other athletes representing the Philippines include Paolo Borromeo, Aleksandr Korovin, Cathryn Limketkai, Isabella Marie Gamez, and Sofia Lexi Jacqueline Frank in figure skating; Francis Ceccarelli and Talullah Proulx in Alpine skiing; Laetaz Amihan Rabe in freestyle skiing; Peter Joseph Groseclose in short track speed skating; and Adrian Tongco in snowboarding.

Harbin, which previously hosted the games in 1996, will see 64 events contested. While Japan, China, and Kazakhstan have historically dominated the Asian Winter Games, the Philippines is hopeful of making its mark as it builds momentum toward the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

Tolentino emphasized the challenges and opportunities the Winter Olympics present, stating, “The Winter Olympics are as extremely tough as the Summer Olympics, but we have proven that it could be done.” The Philippines’ anticipation for future success is fueled by past triumphs, including weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo’s gold medal in Tokyo (2020) and gymnast Carlos Yulo’s two golds in Paris (2024).