00:00 Sometimes, the four gymnasts who are the pinnacle of the Philippines in the game, were unable to enter the Olympics because of a pause.
00:08 His inspiring road to Paris was in the performance of J.P. Soriano.
00:13 Graceful execution.
00:20 Solid techniques.
00:24 Unique skills.
00:29 These are some of the trademarks of Emma Malabuyo, one of the top gymnasts of the Philippines in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.
00:39 Emma is the fourth Filipino gymnast who qualified in the Paris Olympics.
00:48 She will be joining Team Philippines, the Kapwa Philam gymnasts,
00:53 Alia Finnegan and Levi Ruivivar, and the golden boy of Philippine gymnastics, Carlos Yulo.
01:01 Emma qualified after winning a bronze medal in the Individual All-Around event in the 2024 EGU Women's Artistic Gymnastics Asian Championships in Uzbekistan.
01:15 When I was waiting for the final score to pop up,
01:18 I was holding hands with the whole entire Filipino team, we were holding hands and we were praying, "Please make it!"
01:24 And when we finally saw the score flash up, I was like, "No way! I did it! I accomplished my dream, my goal!"
01:32 Emma grew up in America and she knows that she wants to be the pinnacle of the Philippines in international competitions,
01:41 especially in the Olympics.
01:43 That's why the most exciting things for her.
01:47 Especially my mom and dad, for sure, but definitely both my grandparents.
01:53 They were just crying when they found out and I FaceTimed them.
01:58 And they've just seen me work so hard over the years and they were just really proud.
02:03 And not only proud for me, just proud that I'm representing the Philippines.
02:08 But did you know that Emma's great-grandmother's dream of playing in the Olympics
02:15 came to fruition in the Doha Qatar Leg of the 2024 Artistics Gymnastics World Cup Series in April,
02:21 which is also an Olympic qualifying tournament?
02:24 I remember just crying for three days straight.
02:27 I couldn't sleep because I was just so close to qualifying that I thought, "This is over. I'm done."
02:34 After her attempt at the Olympic qualifier, there was another attempt,
02:42 the injury to her shoulder.
02:45 That's when her parents reminded her that the Filipino does not give up.
02:51 That's why Emma continued to play in the Olympic Green.
02:55 They really encouraged me and they really believed in me.
02:58 And so then I felt really motivated to do it for them and do it for the Philippines.
03:02 But Emma's dream is not just the Olympics.
03:08 She also has a plan for Filipino gymnasts like her,
03:12 who are dreaming of competing in the biggest sporting event in the world.
03:18 I really want to help develop a gymnastics program in the Philippines
03:22 and then also help coach when I visit the Philippines in August.
03:25 For GMA Integrated News, JP Soriano, for 24 Hours.
03:34 [music]
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