Francis Ceccarelli promises to keep training and competing after making Winter Olympics debut

Francis Ceccarelli etched his name into Philippine sports history by becoming the first Filipino to secure a quota spot in alpine skiing for the 2026 Winter Olympics. For a tropical nation with little winter sports tradition, this achievement alone was a monumental breakthrough.

But on the slopes of Milano Cortina, the 22-year-old Filipino-Italian’s Olympic debut ended in heartbreak.

Ceccarelli was unable to complete the Men’s Slalom event, registering a DNF (Did Not Finish) after crashing out of the course. He was among 52 alpine skiers who failed to finish the technically demanding race — a stark reminder of the razor-thin margins and unforgiving nature of the discipline. Even elite competitors struggled, including Giant Slalom gold medalist Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who also did not complete the run.

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Slalom, widely regarded as one of the most technical events in alpine skiing, demands rapid-fire turns, precise edge control, and split-second timing. One slight miscalculation can end an athlete’s Olympic campaign — and for Ceccarelli, that harsh reality unfolded on winter sports’ biggest stage.

Despite the setback, Ceccarelli took pride in competing against the world’s best and saw the experience as an invaluable stepping stone for his future.

“For me, this experience is 9 to 10 because, yeah, the sensation is good, the feel is good, only the weather was really difficult. It’s okay. The next time we can make it to the top 50 in the world,” Ceccarelli said in a media interaction.

SALAMAT, FRANCIS 🇵🇭

Filipino-Italian alpine skier Francis Ceccarelli is still grateful to represent the Philippines at the 2026 Winter Olympics, despite not finishing both runs in Men’s Slalom. (🎥: Philippine Olympic Committee) | via @PaigeJavier pic.twitter.com/oVlmabXPGx

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) February 16, 2026

“This experience is like a beautiful moment, because you start, to compete with a big athlete, like top in the world. I mean, every athlete wants to participate in the Olympic Games. And it was my first time. And I’m so really happy and so really proud for my works and for my races. And such a beautiful experience,” he added.

Showing remarkable resilience, Ceccarelli returned to training even before the closing ceremony, motivated to build on what he learned in Milano Cortina.

“I want to continue competing because we are young. Yeah I will keep training, training, and joining races. I mean, this is work. We continue,” he said.

The qualification of Ceccarelli, along with Tallulah Proulx, represents a major step forward for Philippine winter sports. The young athlete hopes his participation will inspire the next generation of Filipino athletes to pursue their dreams, no matter how unconventional the path.

“I mean, for the next generation of Filipinos, I want to tell them, always believe in your dreams and really never give up because it’s important. You work really, really hard to be in the moment.

“I know it’s really difficult and it’s really stressful, but if you really want to reach your dreams, you know it’s real, push it, push it. And so really never give up because one day, the big events, it’s really make it to fun one day in the future,” he concluded.

While Ceccarelli did not finish on the scoreboard, his historic appearance marks a turning point for Philippine winter sports — proof that with determination and perseverance, even athletes from tropical nations can compete on the world stage.

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