MILLER PAHINGA MUNA SA TRAINING PARA SA OPENING CEREMONY

YANQING, CHINA— Hindi muna nagsanay si Asa Miller araw ng Biyernes, pinasalamatan si Olympic weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz para sa kanyang mensahe ng motivation at nagpahinga para sa opening ceremony kung saan siya ang magiging flag bearer sa kanyang ikalawang sunod na Winter Olympics.

Matapos ang tatlong sunod na araw ng two-hour training sessions—salitan sa giant slalom at slalom ng men’s alpine skiing— ipinahinga niya ang kanyang muscles at mindset para sa dalawang events na kanyang lalahukan sa February 13 at 16.

“We decided to take today off, some rest for his sore muscles,” wika ng ama ni Miller na si Kelly mula sa Yanqing Olympic Village bago sila sumakay ng  bus para sa two-hour bus trip sa National Stadium, na tinatawag ding iconic “The Bird’s Nest,” na siya ring naging hosts sa opening ceremony ng Beijing Summer Olympics, 14 taon na ang nakalilipas.

“Rest days are just as important as training days,” sabi ni 21-year-old Miller, na magmamartsa sa unahan ng maliit na Philippine delegation sa parade of nations sa opening ceremony na magsisimula sa alas-8 ng gabi at inaasahang matatapos sa alas-10 ng gabi.

“While skiing comes in short bursts of energy, it’s extremely taxing on muscles and I’m choosing to let my body heal to hopefully alleviate some of the small pains I’m experiencing currently,” anang Economics major sa  Westminster College sa Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sasamahan nina Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President at Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Chef de Mission Bones Floro, at Philippine Ski and Snowboard Federation President Jim Apelar si Miller sa parada. Ang Pilipinas ay maglalakad sa 80,000 seat stadium sa No. 69 sa 91 kalahok na bansa.

“It’s good that we started with the slalom skis,” wika ni Miller,  na pinasalamatan ang Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), sa pangunguna ni chairman William “Butch” Ramirez sa pagsuporfa sa kanyang kampanya rito.

“We’re starting to adjust to the snow and it’s different from where I normally ski, but it’s all good.”

Ang alpine skiing, isa sa 15 disciplines sa Games program, ay gaganapin sa National Alpine Skiing Centre sa dalisdis ng Xiaohaituo Mountain.

Ayon sa mga Miller, magpapasiya sila sa Sabado ng umaga kung babalik sa bundok o mag-i-strategize sa skiers game plan.

“We’ll decide on how Asa feels later,” ani Kelly Miller.

Samantala, pinasalamatan ni Asa Miller si Diaz para sa kanyang inspiring message.

“It really means a lot to me,”  ani Miller patungkol sa mensahe ni Diaz. “She’s really an amazing athlete. I am really super motivated after watching her capture the Olympic gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics.”

Pinayuhan ni Diaz ang Filipino-American mula sa Portland, Oregon, na “just go on and don’t regret anything,” at pinaalalahanan ito na “it doesn’t matter how many times he tries as long as he’s very dedicated to the sport he loves.”