The Philippines had saved its best for last as the taekwondo team exited in a blaze of glory Saturday from the Athens Olympic Games, showing class in defeat worthy of a gold medal.
Mary Antoinette Rivero gave a stupendous, one-for-the-ages performance, while Donald Geisler III had two heroic matches that will surely stay in his memory bank forever.
For Geisler, his last recollection of the Athens Olympic Games was huge spotlights beaming on his face, almost blinding him, and the rupturous ovation from the crowd.
These were scenes of glory, except that he realized he was lying, face up, on a stretcher, being carried by four men to an ambulance on the way to the hospital. He was also grimacing in pain.
Geisler�s Olympics had ended with him in a horizontal position. But to the fans, the RP team and everyone at the scene, there was no shame at the way the RP jin finished his stint.
In a gritty performance worthy of the Olympic television ads that idealized courage, determination and fighting hearts, Geisler had to be taken out on a stretcher after nearly breaking his ankle against Tunisia�s Hicham Hamdouni Saturday in the repechage of the under 80 kg taekwondo competition.
The end came at 1:41 of the second round, the score at 7-all, with both fighters trying to stay alive for the bronze medal.
Geisler went to the attack, but his left foot caught the hardest part of Hamdouni�s knee and the Filipino bet nearly crumpled to the mat, his fall saved by grabbing at his rival.
The referee called timeout and first aid was applied. When fight resumed, Geisler was limping, visibly hurt, but he was ready to brawl again, not knowing his tendons had moved away from its birth place.
The referee signaled resumption, but the Tunisian hesitated sensing Geisler might have been seriously injured. It was at this point that the ref stepped in again and stopped the fight, awarding it to the Tunisian.
The Tunisian, in a gesture of sportsmanship and perhaps, respect at his foe�s valor, raised Geisler�s hand. The crowd agreed and awarded Geisler what amounted to a standing ovation.
X-rays showed Geisler had dislocated his left ankle and separated two tendons. Overall, he is in good shape, though he has to walk in crutches and wear a special brace for the ankle.
If Geisler�s performance was heart-rending, Rivero�s was heart-breaking.
Rivero had beaten two rivals to advance to the semifinals. But the price was dear. When she went up against her Greek rival in the semis, she was hurting from knee, foot and hand injuries.
Still she gave everything that she had. Nearly pulling off a win despite the injuries and having to compete with the crowd at the whole stadium rooting for her rival.
"It hurts," she said. "I know I could have won but the breaks went against me," she said the morning after, the rigors of the match gallantly on display.
She was limping, she was hurting, her body nursing bruises and contusions on her left thigh, right foot and left hand.
Because of this, Philippine Taekwondo Association president Robert Aventajado said their next objective will be to prepare for and prevent injuries in competitions like these.
"We have the right materials but not the right breaks," he said.
Aventajado said he was proud of the performance of his team, including Tshomlee Go, who fought only one fight but lost a close decision against a Spaniard.
Because the team had performed well, Aventajado said he plans to continue with the present program of the association, saying "We must be doing right."
For his part, Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit also praised Rivero.
"She showed a big fighting heart, " he said. "It�s not easy to put up such a stiff fight against a local favorite lustily cheered by partisan fans all the way."
Philippine Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain had similar words for the brave Filipina jin who probably will now be a recognizable face in Manila.
"She fought bravely," he said. "Sa tingin ko sa breaks lang natalo. The match was low-scoring which showed her rival had deep respect for her."
A class act worthy of a gold medal.
Four Filipino jins made it to the finals of the 22nd Southeast Asian Games taekwondo competitions yesterday at the Phu Tho Indoor Stadium here.
