NOW that he’s Olympic-bound, the work won’t stop for rower Cris Nievarez.
The next two months will beehive of activity for the 21-year-old, who will plunge into intensive training to prepare for the “Greatest Show on Earth.”
Nievarez, Uzbekistan coach Shukhrat Ganiev and Filipino coach Ed Maerina need to lay down their game plan as soon as possible after being notified by the World Rowing Federation that he qualified to the Olympiad early Monday morning.
“‘Yung goal talaga ng Philippine rowing ay ma-represent ‘yung sagwan namin sa mataas na kumpetisyon tulad ng Olympics at ‘yung watawat din ng Pilipinas. Susubukan ko na maibigay lahat ng best dito pa lang sa Pilipinas sa bawat training na ma-improve ‘yung time hanggang sa makadikit doon sa malalakas na countries,” Nievarez said in yesterday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum online edition. “May two months na preparation pa naman so kaya pa.”
Nievarez, a grade 12 student at the Commonwealth High School, became the first Filipino paddler to clinch an Olympic berth in the last 21 years, since towering Benjie Tolentino represented the country in the 2000 Sydney Games.
Patrick Gregorio, president of the Philippine Rowing Association, vowed to give the all-out support needed by Nievarez in his preparations for the Tokyo Games where he will compete in the men’s singles sculls.
“Lahat ng puwedeng maibigay na pagkakataon na additional training kay Cris ay ibibigay natin,” said Gregorio, who joined the Filipino Olympian in the public sports program presented by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Amelie Hotel Manila, Braska Restaurant, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
“Lalo na at isa lang si Cris na nag-qualify, so hindi mahirap kumuha ng suporta at sponsors para bigyan si Cris ng exposure,” Gregorio added.
Unfortunately, the current quarantine protocols in the country could get in the way of Nievarez’s planned overseas training as part of his preparations.
“Kaya ‘yan ang kailangan nating i-balanse, ‘yung health protocols kapag bumalik ang isang atleta galing sa isang laban dahil nagpe-peak siya. So kailangan mabigyan ng ensayo si Cris even during quarantine,” Gregorio added.
Nievarez already had a peek of what to expect during the Olympics since rowing will be held at the Sea Forest Waterway, the same site where he competed along with the rest of the national team during the Asia Oceania Continental Qualification Regatta last week.
“Ang maganda kasi nakapa ko na ‘yung klase ng tubig sa Japan. Doon din kasi gagawin ‘yung Olympics so may idea na ako kung ano ang dapat kong palakasin,” said Nievarez, adding he needs to improve on his muscle strength and endurance.
