Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala, currently rising on the WTA Tour, has shared which Winter Olympic sport she would be interested in attempting if given the chance. The 20-year-old athlete, who impressed many at the Australian Open with strong fan support, revealed her curiosity about speed skating after a question about winter sports during a recent press conference.
Eala has experienced significant progress this season, reaching the semifinals of the Miami Open and climbing to a career-best ranking of world number 40. After a notable victory over world number eight Jasmine Paolini in Dubai, she was asked what winter sport she might try.
Eala Names Speed Skating as Her Preferred Winter Sport
In anticipation of the 2026 Winter Olympics scheduled for Milano-Cortina, winter sports have drawn considerable attention. During her post-match interview following a 6-1, 7-6(5) win against Paolini, Eala expressed a genuine interest in speed skating, despite admitting limited knowledge about winter sports in general.
She candidly said,
“I’m not sure. I’m not very knowledgeable on winter sports,”
and explained,
“I like kind of skating and they go in the rink like this.”
Adding further, Eala confessed,
“Yeah, speed skating. I like that. But I can tell you I’m really, really bad at skiing. I’m so bad.”
Philippines’ History and Representation in Winter Olympics
While the Philippines has secured 18 medals at the Summer Olympics, the nation is still yet to claim a medal at the Winter Games. Nevertheless, the country is represented by two athletes competing in the ongoing 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, both participating in skiing events.
Francis Ceccarelli and Tallulah Proulx, the latter being the first female athlete to represent the Philippines at a Winter Olympic Games, have competed in giant slalom and slalom events. Ceccarelli finished 54th in the men’s giant slalom but did not complete the men’s slalom, while Proulx placed 52nd in the women’s giant slalom and 61st in the women’s slalom.
Despite Alexandra Eala’s own admission of being poor at skiing, it remains the sport in which the Philippines’ current Winter Olympians have competed, highlighting the country’s evolving presence on the winter sports stage.
Significance of Eala’s Remarks and Future Outlook
Alexandra Eala’s openness about exploring winter sports like speed skating demonstrates the growing interest in diverse athletic pursuits beyond her established tennis career. Her comments contribute to increasing visibility for Filipino athletes on the world stage, especially as the country seeks to make its mark at the Winter Olympics.
With the upcoming Winter Games in Milano-Cortina, the performances of Filipino athletes including Ceccarelli, Proulx, and the potential future involvement of talents like Eala, could inspire broader participation and development in winter sports within the Philippines.
