It was a dream come true for Eumir Marcial to get into the biggest stage in all of sports — the Olympics. However, the 25-year-old boxer had more lofty aspirations than that.
He wanted that Olympic gold. He dreamt of being called an Olympic champion.
Come Thursday, Marcial was just one judge off of making the dream come true. He left the Kokugikan Arena and his first-ever Olympics pocketing a well-deserved bronze — a first for a Filipino male boxer since 1996 Atlanta.
“Unang-una naisip o siguro may plano pa po ang Panginoon sa akin,” the fourth-seeded middleweight told Cignal’s Paolo del Rosario.
“Kumbaga, itong pagkatalo ko, ito lang ‘yung dahilan para lalo akong lumakas, lalo ako mag-improve.”
Marcial, however, did not mince on his words and admitted it was really disappointing. He said, “Sobrang sakit siyempre kasi talagang pinangarap ko ‘to eh, simula pagka bata pa lang. Gusto ko na talaga makatuntong dito sa Olympics at makuha ‘yung gold.
“Pero bigo ako, hindi ko nakuha ‘yung gold.”
With the experience of triumphs and this deep pain at the end of his Olympic debut, the three-time Southeast Asian Games champion would do anything to get another chance for that gold that eluded him.
“Kung pagbibigyan ako ng pagkakataon ulit na makapag-represent sa Olympics, iga-grab ko ‘yung opportunity. Kasi hanggang ngayon, pangarap ko pa rin na makuha ‘yung gold sa Olympics,” he shared.
For Marcial, though, the dream remains alive. Now, he vows to bounce back stronger for the flag and country.
He ended, “Masasabi ko binigay ko po ‘yung lahat, ‘yung best ko para makuha ‘yung ginto sa Olympics. Kaya hindi ko pinagsisihan mga nagawa ko.
“Siguro may pagkukulang, pero gagawin ko po lahat para magbigay pa ulit ng karangalan sa bansa natin. “
