Published May 11, 2021, 3:18 PM
Cris Nievarez arrives at the airport following his stint in the Olympic qualifying tournament.
Rower Cris Nievarez is not wasting precious time preparing for his debut appearance at the 2021 Tokyo Games.
The 21-year-old up-and-comer is using his time training indoors while still in quarantine after arriving at the Asia Oceania Continental Qualification in Tokyo, Japan over the weekend.
His Olympic ticket came as a surprise and with only 10 weeks left before the Games, but Nievarez said he is not putting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity into waste by putting more quality to his training.
“Focus ko po i-improve yung endurance ko saka muscle strength, mas patibayin pa yung technique,” said Nievarez during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Online Forum Tuesday, May 11.
Published May 10, 2021, 10:40 AM
Cris Nievarez became the eighth Filipino to qualify to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics after organizers confirmed his qualification in the men’s singles sculls.
The Philippine Rowing Association announced this on social media Monday, where the 21-year-old Atimonan, Quezon native will join pole vaulter EJ Obiena, world champion gymnast Carlos Yulo, 2016 Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting, and boxers Eumir Marcial, Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio and Irish Magno.
Nievarez, who only joined the national team in 2016 at 15 years old, finished ninth in his event at the Asia Oceania Continental Qualification over the weekend in Tokyo, Japan, where only the top five rowers will earn tickets.
Published May 7, 2021, 12:57 PM
Photo from Coach Ed Maerina
The Philippine rowing team failed to earn an Olympic berth in the Asia Oceania Continental Qualification after the last man standing Cris Nievarez fell short in his campaign in the men’s single sculls semifinal in Tokyo, Japan Friday morning, May 7.
Nievarez, who turned 20 last month, finished fifth in his six-man group after clocking 7 minutes and 28.84 seconds behind Japanese, Indian, Vietnamese and Hong Kong rowers.
He earned a semis seat after topping Thursday’s repechage.
The 12 semifinalists were divided into two groups with the top three rowers of each bracket advancing to the finals Friday afternoon.
Cris Nievarez inched closer to an Olympic berth while two national team pairs fell out of contention in rowing’s Asia Oceania Continental Qualification in Tokyo, Japan Thursday, May 6.