Nesthy Petecio: Breaking barriers from day one

Nesthy Petecio has made breaking barriers a life habit.

From the very beginning, she was born into poverty in a farming family in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur. Petecio helped her family earn money from an early age, selling chicken droppings as fertiliser and often times, they would have to borrow money for food.

Her father Teodoro had dreamed of becoming a boxer and began coaching Nesthy when she was just seven years old, first as a means of self-defense. Eventually, boxing became a financial lifeline for the family as she and her siblings fought in inter-barangay (neighborhood) boxing competitions.

Win or lose, the family would be able to eat, and soon enough, the prize money would grow.

Everything changed for Nesthy in a fight at Rizal Park in Davao City when she was just 11. Matched against a male boxer, Nesthy won the fight, despite the significant difference in size and experience.

That victory was ultimately her pathway to the Philippines national team. The early chapters of her career saw plenty of success, including silver medals at the 2011 and 2013 SEA Games, among others.

Battle with anxiety and depression

However, success was anything but a given for Petecio. Failure to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games followed by failure to medal at the 2018 Asian Games combined with a difficult breakup outside of the ring led to a seven-month spell battling anxiety and depression.

"When I lost my opening bout at the 2018 Asian Games, I really wanted to stop," she told Olympics.com.

"I was going to look for a job. I was looking for other options. At that time, I was really feeling down. I was feeling depressed, I was stressed,” said Petecio ahead of the 19th Asian Games.

“Without boxing, I wouldn’t be who I am today. There would be no Nesthy Petecio.”

Crucially, Petecio took a much-needed break from her boxing gloves and the ring for the sake of her emotional and mental health.

With the help of her coaches, Petecio made an inspired comeback, winning three international golds in 2019, including at the world championships and SEA Games.

Tokyo 2020 breakthrough

After the year postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Petecio arrived in Tokyo refreshed and energised. She was unstoppable.

Fighting in the inaugural featherweight competition at the Games, Petecio’s tenacious and full throttle approach saw her climb all the way to the gold medal match.

Although she fell to Japan’s Irie Sena in the decider, she, once again, broke barriers and made history to become the first female Filipina boxer to win an Olympic medal and the first boxer of any gender from the Philippines to medal since Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco won silver in Atlanta in 1996.

Flying the flag for the LGBTQ community

Petecio dedicated her medal to her father, whose dream was always to compete in boxing at the Olympics, but she also extended her tribute to the LGBTQ community.

“I am proud to be part of the LGBTQ community. Go forward, fight! This win is also for you,” she said following the medal ceremony.

“Whatever your gender is, as long as you have a dream, keep fighting.”

Petecio’s dream is clear: to medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou and win Olympic gold at Paris 2024. And as her entire life testifies, she will keep fighting, breaking barriers and making history.