Stephen Fernandez on Olympics & Friendship

After competing in two Olympic Games and winning a bronze medal in taekwondo at the 1992 Barcelona Olympiad, Stephen Fernandez reveals that the value of friendship is what he treasures most. He bared this at the Online Sports Leadership Program of the Philippine Olympians Association in partnership with Ateneo de Davao University.

Fernandez was part of the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and the Barcelona Olympics of 1992 where taekwondo was a demonstration sport. It became a regular Olympic sport in the 2000 Olympics. He recalled how the memories and relationships that were forged at both Olympiads were sure to last beyond a lifetime and how the Olympics was not only about the games and winning medals. Reflecting on why friendship is an considered as an Olympic value, he cited one review that said that “friendship is at the heart of the Olympic movement. It encourages to see sports as an instrument of mutual understanding between individuals between people all over the world.”

“If there is friendship, there will be no wars and injustice because friendship unites people and when you are united, there are so many things that you can do,” he added as he talked about the bonds that he was able to make with other Olympic athletes from different sports.

He then quoted John Williams who said that the “Olympics are a wonderful metaphor for world cooperation, the kind of international competition that’s wholesome and healthy, an interplay with countries that represent the best in all of us.”

Among the most memorable moments was when he had the chance to see the stars of the Olympics as “normal” people, eating with them at the mess hall or simply hanging out and having fun in the Olympic Village. He even had the chance to share a table with the bemedalled Greg Louganis and had a picture taken with the diving icon. Among those he had the chance to rub elbows with were tennis demigod Steffi Graf and two-time U.S. Hall of Fame inductee David Robinson.

He also shared how he continues to keep in touch with the three others who made it to the podium with him in 1992. He has bumped into gold medallist William Cordoba of Mexico, Sayed Youseff Najem of Canada (silver) and the late Domenico D'Alise of Italy (bronze) at international tournaments where they serve as coaches of their respective national teams.

This network of Olympic athletes has now been institutionalized with the Philippine Olympians Association headed by Akiko Thomson-Guevara where all Filipino Olympians are recognized and work for a common cause. They are also now part of the Asian Olympians Association where they have had conferences and engagements.

“I made a lot of memories, a lot of friends, and a lot of relationships in my career, that to this day, this people who have been with me are still my friends,” Fernandez proudly said. This was after following the advice of his teacher and which was echoed by his parents “never to forget the people you were with in your career.”

He also recalled how the Barcelona Olympics turned out to be a dream of a lifetime and finally recognized how big an Olympiad was. He was the first Filipino taekwondo athlete to qualify for two straight Olympics and won a bronze medal. The podium ceremony was another unforgettable moment where he was crying while proudly looking at the flag even if the national anthem of Mexico was being played. “I couldn’t sleep until 4 a.m. The adrenalin from the awarding ceremony and the messages of so many people were overwhelming,” he quipped. Then coming home was another special moment as he had the chance to place his bronze medal around the neck of his mother who was ill at that time and who eventually passed away shortly after.

The 1992 Barcelona Olympics capped an eleven year career that started when he was thirteen years old and which included doing taekwondo demonstrations to help promote the sport in malls and public places. After a journey that took him everywhere from demonstrations to national tournaments, the Southeast Asian Games, the Asian games and the two Olympiads, Fernandez retired from the sport with multiple medals, trophies and awards, but most importantly, lifelong friendships that he says will last forever.

Photo: Stephen Fernandez gives a talk at the First Online Sports Leadership Program, a partnership between the Philippine Olympians Association and Ateneo de Davao University.