The Philippine men’s curling team’s historic gold medal at the 9th Asian Winter Games has not only cemented the country’s dominance in Southeast Asian winter sports but also strengthened hopes for a future Winter Olympics medal.

“Too Good to Be True” – Tolentino

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino described the victory as both shocking and groundbreaking.

“This is too good to be true,” said Tolentino. “Shocking, that’s the least I can say. Now, the path is clearer toward our first medal in the Winter Olympics.”

The Philippine squad of Marc Pfister, Enrico Pfister, Alan Frei, Christian Haller, and Benjo Delarmente defeated South Korea 5-3 in the final match on the last day of the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China.

The Best-Performing Southeast Asian Team

• The Philippines finished as the top-performing Southeast Asian nation in the 34-country competition.
• Thailand also made history, winning its first-ever bronze medal through Thai-Frenchman Paul Vieuxtemps in men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle.

Building Momentum for the Winter Olympics

Tolentino emphasized that the Philippines’ success in Harbin was a springboard for greater achievements, particularly at the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026.

“I always believe the impossible can be achieved,” he said. “We did it in Tokyo and Paris, and while it may not come in Italy next year, I believe we’re on the right track.”

• The 25th Winter Olympics will take place in Milano Cortina, Italy, in February 2026.
• With the curling team’s gold medal performance, Tolentino remains optimistic about qualifying medal contenders for Italy.

Why the Curling Gold Medal is a Game-Changer

• The Asian Winter Games occur only once every four years, making this victory a rare and significant milestone.
• The Philippines’ success in Harbin marks its strongest showing in winter sports history.
• The team’s ability to defeat world-ranked opponents proves that Filipino athletes can compete at the highest level in winter sports.

Philippines’ Recent Olympic Success

Under Tolentino’s leadership, the Philippines has achieved historic Olympic milestones:

• Tokyo 2020 – Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo won the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in weightlifting.
• Paris 2024 – Carlos Yulo secured two gold medals in gymnastics.

Now, Milano Cortina 2026 represents the next challenge, with Philippine curling leading the way.

A Historic Turning Point for Philippine Winter Sports

“It’s that big,” Tolentino said about the significance of the curling gold medal. “These games happen only once every four years, and it will take a while to do this again.”

With momentum on their side, the Philippines is now looking ahead to future international competitions, with the ultimate goal of making history once again at the Winter Olympics.