By Jaime Joshua A. Frias II
Contributor
BEHIND Carlo Paalam’s recent success in qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics came with an untold story.
The 25-year-old Paalam, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, had almost considered dropping his quest for another Olympic dream after inflicting a career-threatening injury.
He inflicted that injury when his Mexican foe Andrey Bonilla wrestled him to the floor during the Italy Olympic qualifier in March this year.
Former city mayor Oscar S. Moreno narrated how Paalam’s dreams were almost shattered by that incident.
“He fought a young Mexican, he was leading in points but he was wrestled made him drop to the floor, and could no longer continue to fight afterward,” said Moreno.
Paalam was among the cream of the crop of Moreno’s boxing program during his incumbency as mayor of the city from 2013 to 2022.
The officials from the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) were concerned about Paalam’s condition and wanted him back in the ring as soon as possible.
They got more worried when they could not hear any news from him since his injury. He was to report to Manila as soon as possible since they needed his presence to get a visa at the US Embassy for his training in Las Vegas this month.
“There was a time dili na makontak si Carlo kay tungod sa frustration sa career threatening injury and manganakay pa iyang asawa,” Moreno revealed his situation.
Paalam seemed to be removing himself from the circulation until ABAP asked assistance from Moreno and his long-time coach Elmer Pamisa to personally talk to him.
Pamisa convinced him to get back on his feet but he had a few conditions from ABAP and all were approved. Among his requests was he needed Pamisa by his side for training and conditioning which should be done in his hometown.
Two months after inflicting the injury, Paalam was back in condition but he still felt some sore over his shoulder. His training involved only running and shadowboxing but no sparring.
“Maikog man gud si Carlo magtrain didto kay basin dili niya makaya ang iyang ipabuhat didto ug maulaw siya sa iyang teammates,” Moreno said.
Had there been no one to talk to him personally here, Paalam would have considered kissing his second Olympic dream goodbye.
The Kagay-anon Pride booked a seat in the 2024 Olympics after qualifying in the 2nd World Qualifying in Thailand on Saturday.
Perhaps his struggle would be an Olympic story soon.
