By Alona Cochon/PNA
ROME – After his debut at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina in February, Filipino-Italian alpine skier Francis Ceccarelli came up with an impressive performance after winning eight medals, including three golds, at the National and Junior Championships in Montenegro on March 9-13.
The 22-year-old Winter Olympian snatched his first gold medal in the men’s giant slalom event in the National Junior Championships in Kolasin, besting fellow Milano-Cortina Olympians Brandislav Petrovic of Montenegro and Harutyun Hartyunyan of America on March 12.
Ceccarelli then extended his impressive run with two slalom golds in Entry League FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation) 1 and Entry League FIS 2 categories on March 13.
He opened his five-day FIS campaign with two silvers in slalom events, both in national championships and FIS Kolasin on March 9, and two bronze medals in slalom events in Junior Championships and FIS Kolasin on March 10.
Ceccarilli captured his second silver medal in the giant slalom event in the National Championships on March 11.
“I try to bring the Philippine ski high, and I am honored to represent it,” he said.
Ceccarelli’s historic achievement sets the tone for other Filipino athletes still chasing their Olympic dreams, proving that with determination and opportunity, even the most unlikely paths can lead to the world’s biggest stage.
At the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Ceccarelli finished 54th out of 81 competitors in the men’s giant slalom discipline. (Alona Cochon/PNA)
