TALK about conquering tough odds and Samantha Kyle Catantan outperformed even herself, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino said of the fencer who became the 12th Filipino athlete to officially qualify for the Paris Olympics.

'Samantha Catantan rose beyond adversity and proved herself deserving of an Olympic spot,' Tolentino said on Sunday just hours after Catantan earned her ticket to Paris by winning the women's foil gold medal at the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualification Tournament in Fujairah, the United Arab Emirates.