ELEVEN Pinoy athletes will try to achieve what no other Filipino Olympian has ever done before – bring the Philippines that elusive gold medal.

All eyes will be in London the next couple of weeks as the 2012 Olympic Games is upon us.

The Philippines has sent over 11 athletes and if it all goes well, one of those Olympians will win the country a medal of any kind since the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta.

To date, the Philippines has won two silver and seven bronze medals. Both silvers came from boxing, which many believe is the country’s best hope to win a gold medal. The bronze medals came from events such as track and field, swimming, taekwondo and boxing.

But capturing the gold is the goal.The prize and glory of becoming the country’s olympic darling is huge.

The government and several Philippine corporations have already promised rewards to any Pinoy athlete who can win a medal. Even more so for a gold medal.

The realization of these gold medal hopes and dreams now lie on these athletes:

Mark Anthony Barriga (Boxing)

Barriga is a 19-year-old from Davao competing in the light flyweight (48-kg) division. As the first Filipino to qualify for the Olympic games, many consider him to be the country’s best shot at winning a gold medal this summer. Leading up to the games, Barriga trained with the country’s best boxer Manny Pacquiao. The media in London have already dubbed him “Little Pacman.”
The road to gold in this division is not easy. There’s a possibility he’ll be facing seasoned veterans including 2008 gold medalist Zou Shiming of China.

Jasmine Alkhaldi (Swimming)

Alkhaldi is a 19-year-old half-Filipino half-Saudi Arabian from Paranaque. She’ll be participating in the 100-meter freestyle event. A three gold medalist in her age group at the Southeast Asian games, Alkhaldi knows her chances of medaling in London is slim.But that won’t deter her from trying.She told ABS-CBN recently: “I am praying and hoping na sana kahit papaano, maganda ang rank, na kahit bata ako, maganda ang rank ko,” Alkhaldi said. “And next time, I’ll exceed their expectations and my expectations.”

Daniel Manabat Caluag (Cycling -BMX)

Caluag is a 25-year-old Filipino American participating in the BMX cycling event. Introduced in the 2008 games in China, the BMX event is still fairly new. Caluag, born in California, said he was introduced to the sport at the age of 9 by his father, who originally hails from Bulacan. Caluag is ranked as one of the top sixty riders in the world. He most recently finished 24th at the BMX World Championships.

Hidilyn Diaz (Weightlifting)

This is the second straight Olympics for Diaz, a 21-year-old from Zamboanga City, who will compete in the weightlifting event. Arguably the strongest woman in the Philippines, Diaz admittedly performed poorly in the Beijing Olympics and is seeking redemption in London. Keep an eye out on her during the Olympic opening ceremony. She was chosen as the country’s flag bearer.

Rene Herrera (Track and Field – 5,000 Meters)

At age 33, Herrera is the oldest competitor for Team Philippines. As one of the top runners in Southeast Asia, Herrera is set to compete in the 5,000 meter Steeplechase event. Originally from, Guimaras Island in Iloilo, Herrera most recently finished second at the Hong Kong Intercity Athletics Championships in Hong Kong earlier this year.

Tomohiko Aldaba Hoshina (Judo)

A Filipino Japanese athlete, the 25-year-old Hoshina will compete in the 100 kg Super Heavyweight Judo division in these Olympic games. Hoshina’s mother originally hails from Bulacan, but he is based in Japan. At the 2011 World Judo Championships, he earned 27 ranking points. He is a former silver medalist in the 2007 SEA Games.

Jessie Khing Lacuna (Swimming)

The other swimmer in Team Philippines, the 18-year-old Lacuna will compete in the 200 meter swimming event. The Bulacan native won six gold medals in the 2nd Philippine National Games. As the youngest representative for Team Philippines, Lacuna is fast becoming one of the best swimmers in the country.

Brian Rosario (Skeet Shooting)

Aside from boxer Barriga, Brian Rosario has a really good chance of medaling in London. Competing in the Skeet Shotgun event, the 30-year-old Rosario from Manila is coming off an impressive performance at last year’s World Shotgun Championships in Serbia where he finished in the top 10.
Rosario recently told the Philippine Star that he’s hoping to “build on that momentum.”

Marestella Torres (Track and Field)

This is the second straight Olympics for Torres, the hailed “Long Jump Queen” of Southeast Asia. The 32-year-old from Negros Oriental, is a four-time Southeast Asian Games Long Jump champion. In the Beijing Olympics, she was 34th out of 38 competitors. It was a disappointing finish, she told ABS-CBN. And like weightlifter Hidlyn Diaz, Torres is also seeking redemption in London. She told ABS-CBN she’s ready to pull of a major “surprise.”

Rachel Ann Cabral (Archery)

Cabral who hails from Cagayan Valley is one of two archers for Team Philippines. Cabral shot her way to the Olympics at the World Archery Competition in Ogden, Utah. Trained under Korean coach, Chun Jae-Hun, Cabral bested hundreds of competitors and finished 37th good enough to earn an Olympic bid.

Mark Javier (Archery)

The other archer for Team Philippines, this is the second straight Olympic games for the 30-year-old Javier. An alumnus of Silliman University, he finished 36th in Beijing.