Ana Noelle Reynado Wahleithner has been confirmed as the first Filipina Qualifier to the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) to be held in January in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The 16-year-old Ana Wahleithner was announced by the Philippine Ski Federation on October 5 as the Philippines’ first-ever Filipina youth Winter Olympian to compete at the 2020 Winter YOG.
The young skier holds an International Ski Federation (FIS) license registered under the Philippines and has amassed points in FIS-sanctioned races in 2019 to secure the berth at the 2020 Winter Olympics.
Prior to qualifying for the Winter Olympics, Ana Wahleithner competed in several skiing competitions, among them, the following races:
- first international alpine skiing competition in Cardrona, New Zealand, July 2018
- Alpine Skiing Junior World Championship (JWC) in Val Di Fassa, Italy, February 2019
The young Wahleithner is a Filipino-American born to Filipina Lady Angela Reynado of Davao and American citizen James K. Wahleithner.
The Philippine Olympic Committee announced that Ana Wahleithner is now in Switzerland for training with coach Mamie Phelan for the 2020 Winter YOG.
The PSF said Ana will be training for two weeks in Switzerland and back to North America for races leading to 2020 Lausanne in January.
The Winter YOG is a multi-sport competition for young elite athletes from around the world between 15 and 18 years old with an equal number of male and female athletes. Held over 13 days of competition, 1,880 athletes will compete at Lausanne 2020 in eight sports across 16 disciplines in 81 medal events.
“The Winter Youth Olympic Games provide a fun format for young athletes to experience the Olympic spirit as they work toward achieving their goals and dreams,” said Mary Byrne, Editor in Chief of the IOC’s global Olympic Channel.
Ana Wahleithner’s competitions at the 2020 YOG can be viewed through the various platforms of the Olympic Channel during its coverage from January 9-22, 2020.
The Philippines already has two Qualifiers to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Champion pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena was the first Filipino Qualifier to the Summer Olympics after his gold-winning jump met the Olympic Standard during competitions in Italy last September.
Gymnast Carlos “Caloy” Yulo is the second Filipino Qualifier to the Tokyo Olympics after securing a finals berth and eventually winning gold at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany this October.
SEND congratulations in the comments below to Ana Wahleithner for carrying the Philippine colors at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games!
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