History is on the slopes for the Philippines as Filipino-Italian Alpine skier Francis Ceccarelli secures his spot for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The 22-year-old will become the first-ever athlete representing the Philippines to compete in the prestigious winter sports event.
A Dream Forged in Snow and Heritage
Ceccarelli, born in Quezon City and adopted by an Italian family at a young age, is currently in final preparations for the Games, which will be held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, from February 6 to 22, 2026. In a recent online interview, the athlete expressed his pride and readiness. "I'm feeling good, and really proud of myself and for the people who support me. I'm really excited and ready for this Olympics season," he stated.
Now residing in Abetone, Tuscany, Ceccarelli's skiing journey began in his youth, inspired by his mother's family and the ski-centric culture of his town. "The first one who encouraged me to ski was my mom at ski school camp," he shared, noting that his passion grew from there, leading him through various coaches to his current trainer, Stefano.
The Path to Olympic Qualification
The road to the Olympics was paved with relentless training and international competition. Ceccarelli, who started representing the Philippines in 2023, pointed to constancy and continuity as the secret to his success. He built his qualifying credentials through numerous races under the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), particularly in the slalom discipline, and gained valuable experience at events like the Asian Winter Games.
"I qualified for the Winter Olympics because I made many races and many trainings before," Ceccarelli explained. He is currently honing his skills with high-altitude practice runs in Chile, fine-tuning his technique for the global stage.
Carrying the Filipino Flag with Pride
Despite growing up in Italy, Ceccarelli has always held his Filipino identity close. In a past interview with Olympics.com, he emphasized that representing his birth nation was a significant goal. "Since I started skiing, my Filipino identity has always been with me. It represents where I was born and where I'm from," he said.
He sees his Olympic debut as a rare and meaningful opportunity to put the Philippines on the map in winter sports. "It was a goal for me to ski for the Philippines, because it is not every day that we have a Filipino athlete skiing at the international level," Ceccarelli affirmed. His participation marks a groundbreaking moment for Philippine athletics, inspiring a new generation to dream beyond traditional sporting boundaries.
