Filipina fencing star Samantha Catantan, who recently made her Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Games, has added another achievement to her list: completing her Master of Accounting degree at Pennsylvania State University.
Just weeks after her Olympic stint, where she secured a breakthrough win by defeating Brazil’s Mariana Pistoia in the women’s foil round of 32 before falling short in the round of 16 to Italian veteran Arianna Errigo, Catantan shared her academic success on social media.
“I still can’t believe how this became possible at such an unexpected time. This is an experience I will never forget for the rest of my life,” Catantan expressed in an Instagram post, reflecting on her journey. She credited the support of the people around her for helping her reach this milestone.
However, Catantan’s celebration is tempered by the reality of her ongoing battle with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which she re-aggravated during the Paris Games. “Unfortunately, I re-tore my ACL and need to take some time off the strip again,” she shared, but remains optimistic, vowing to continue pursuing her dreams.
“Patuloy na lalaban para sa pangarap,” Catantan added, signifying her determination to keep fighting for her goals despite the challenges she faces.