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THE Winter Olympics in Vancouver is right around the corner, and one person competing that Filipinos should be aware of is Fil-Am Amanda Evora.
The 25-year-old Evora and her partner Mark Ladwig will compete in their first Olympics on Sunday, February 14 and Monday, February 15 in the pairs competition.
The two qualified to represent the United States in the 2010 Olympics after placing second in the US National Championships in Washington this past January.
Evora is considered to be the first person of full Filipino ancestry to represent the United States in a Winter Olympic games. Her father Vic, who attended the University of the Philippines, was born in Calapan, Mindoro. Her mother, Mary Anne was born in Ilagan, Isabela.
There have been other Winter Olympians with Filipino heritage representing the US such as Tai Babilonia (a two-time Olympian in pairs skating) and Elizabeth Punsalan (a two-time Olympian in ice dancing) but they were only a quarter and half Filipino, respectively.
Evora began skating at the age 6 and said her dream has always been to make it to the Olympics.
Now, she is not only living her dream but can go one step further – win a gold medal.
The Asian Journal interviewed Evora before she left to the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, BC.
AJ: What was your reaction when you finally heard the news that you and your partner were going to represent the United States in the Vancouver Winter Olympics? (Despite she and her partner placing second in the US National Championships, a US Olympic committee still had the right to choose which pairs team would move on to represent the US.)
Amanda Evora: The best way for me to say it is I’ve been on cloud nine since. I don’t want to say that it was completely unexpected. My partner and I have always had the goal to make it to the Olympics… We made it. It was very amazing given how hard we trained and how it all came about. It’s definitely a dream come true.
AJ: Is it more significant for you making it to the Olympics as a Filipino-American? Many people are saying that you are the first full Filipino to represent the US in the Olympics.
AE: Well, yes. You learn something new everyday. People have said that to me before. I never really thought about it too much but now that I am in this position knowing that I’m the first Filipino-American to go to the Winter Olympics is such an honor and even means more because of what I want to do and what I want to represent when I’m out there.
AJ: Tell me your parents’ reaction when you told them you made it to the Olympics?
AE: Well my mom was in the audience [at the US National Championships] when I found out. I think she cried as much as I did. The only difference was millions of viewers saw me cry and my dad is a very humorous man so when I called him he said to me ‘I hear you’re not second to last.’ And it’s his way of breaking the ice. I know how happy he was.
AJ: Have you been to the Philippines? How often do you go there?
AE: With training for skating I can’t travel to the Philippines as much as I want to. When I do go with my dad we usually stay for around two to three weeks. Last time, I went was about three years ago. I love it there. I’ve skated at [SM] Mega Mall. My dad’s family lives in Mindoro and it’s always great to see my big family.
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