After becoming the first boxer from the Philippines to have a podium finish at the Olympic Games for almost 25 years, Nesthy Petecio dedicated the achievement to the LGBTIQ+ community.
"This win is for the LGBTQ community. Let’s go, fight!" Petecio said on Tuesday, according to a translation from ESPN, after accepting the silver medal for placing second in the women’s featherweight boxing in Tokyo.
Petecio also encouraged other members of the LGBTIQ+ community to pursue their dreams.
“No matter what our gender is, as long as we have a dream, we fight. Ignore people who bring you down and the things they say,” Petecio said, according to a translation by Rappler.
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Japan's Sena Irie took the gold medal by unanimous decision, delivering the host nation's maiden medal in women's boxing.
The 20-year-old university student looked light on her feet as she peppered Petecio with jabs and capped the third round with a convincing combination.
She and Petecio both shed tears on the podium.
"Before I knew it I was on the podium and the national anthem was playing. Somehow I had become world number one and I became a little tearful," Irie said.
Petecio said champion male Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao has been an inspiration for their career.
"I compare my life to his," Petecio said, according to a translation from the Olympic Channel.
"We both came from hardships, we both started from nothing."
With Reuters.
