Samantha Catantan celebrates after qualifying for the Paris Olympics by winning the women’s individual foil event at the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, in April. She will be the first fencer from the Philippines to compete in the Olympics since 1992. (Photos courtesy of Catantan and Penn State)
Media Center Corbin McGuire
Nittany Lion reflects on journey to qualifying, how NCAA experience helped her get there
Penn State's Samantha Catantan stood at the pinnacle of her fencing career, her journey a testament to resilience and determination. She ripped off her mask and became overcome by emotion, her head collapsing into her hands.
Catantan had just qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics by winning the women's individual foil event at the Asia-Oceania Zonal Olympic Qualifier in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, in April. For Catantan, a native of the Philippines, this moment was significant for several reasons.
To start, Catantan will be the first fencer from the Philippines to compete in the Olympics since 1992 — before she was born.
"When I won the tournament, I became very emotional," Catantan said. "I was just very happy, not just for myself, of course, but also for the whole country."
Catantan's journey to the Olympics was not without its challenges. A significant setback came in the form of a torn ACL injury she suffered in May 2023.
"I heard something pop on my knee," she recalled of a semifinal match at the Southeast Asian Games.
At the time of the injury, Catantan was up 14-5 and needed just 1 point to advance to the finals and guarantee herself a silver medal. Despite knowing something was significantly wrong with her knee, she finished and won the match.
"I worked so hard to get there, so I had to literally suit up and finish the bout with a torn ACL," she said.
The road to recovery was arduous, filled with rehabilitation and uncertainty. However, Catantan's time at Penn State played a pivotal role in her comeback.
"It was a hard 10 months," she admitted. "But I'm really happy that the whole Penn State community is very supportive. They're one of the reasons why I got to this point."
A key milestone, physically and mentally, occurred when Catantan qualified for the NCAA fencing championships in March. When her rehab planning began, this tournament was not even on her schedule. She had just started fencing again in January. Competing with the best fencers in the NCAA, a pipeline for Olympic fencers across the world, seemed impossible at the time. Adding to her confidence, she finished 10th in foil out of 24 qualifiers.
"The fact that I made it to NCAAs … I felt that everything is possible," she said. "Making it to top 10 in the nation, of course it's not the best result, but after only fencing for almost two months before coming to that tournament, I felt that everything is possible."
Still, the accomplishment feels surreal when Catantan really thinks about it. Her journey from a young girl in the Philippines, discovering fencing in a free program, to representing her country on the global stage was nothing short of remarkable.
"I started fencing because I just wanted to have fun, make friends, but I found something beyond that," she explained. "I found a meaning, a purpose and a family."
Unexpectedly, that family expanded to Penn State. As a teenager, Catantan attended a training camp in Malayasia that was hosted by former Penn State great Nonpatat Panchan, a 2002 and 2003 NCAA champion in foil. This experience led to a connection with and a scholarship offer from the Nittany Lion coaches.
"I was just very blessed that our coach saw me, he trusted and believed in me, and he recruited me to Penn State," she said.
An accounting major planning to return for another season to work on a master's degree, Catantan said Penn State has provided not just a platform for her education but also a nurturing environment for her athletic endeavors.
"Coming here in the U.S. was a tough decision for me, but I think it's one of the best decisions I've made in my life. It opened a lot of opportunities for me to be able to compete with world-class fencers," said Catantan, a team captain for Penn State. "And just having a degree from Penn State, it's unimaginable for (kids from the Philippines), so I'm very grateful for that."
As she prepares for the Paris Olympics, Catantan is remaining grounded, focused not just on the competition but also on the broader impact of her journey. She hopes breaking a 32-year Olympic fencing drought for her country can inspire more Filipino children to get into fencing and increase resources for athletes in the country. Additionally, Catantan aims to show others from her country the value of trying to compete in the NCAA.
"If it's possible for me, then it's possible for them," she said. "I'm so grateful to be part of the Penn State fencing team and to be supported by the whole NCAA. They've been changing people's lives. I'm beyond blessed and grateful for that."
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