Overview:
Nine of Palau’s top young athletes have secured Olympic Scholarships that will fund their training through 2028, easing financial burdens and strengthening their pursuit of qualification for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Nine athletes receive monthly funding to sharpen training and inspire the next generation
By: Eoghan Olkeriil Ngirudelsang
KOROR, Palau — Nine of Palau’s top athletes have received Olympic Scholarships that will provide monthly funding to support their training for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, giving them resources to focus fully on preparation and competition.
The Palau National Olympic Committee (PNOC) announced the awards through the Olympic Solidarity program of the International Olympic Committee, which provides financial assistance to promising athletes worldwide.
Each recipient will receive $1,000 per month through Aug. 1, 2028, a program designed to help cover training, travel and equipment costs as athletes pursue Olympic qualification.
The scholarships were awarded to athletes from four sports disciplines — athletics, aquatics, weightlifting and wrestling — reflecting the growing depth of Palau’s developing sports programs.
The recipients are:
Athletics:
Sydney Francisco, OLY
Tyson Chinn
Aquatics:
Hanna Ruluked
Kazuumi Nestor
Weightlifting:
Blaine Patris
Belau Wrestling Federation:
Raiden Decherong
Manifanur Marino
Hina Brel
Jarvis Tarkong
For many of the athletes, the scholarship removes financial barriers that often limit training opportunities in small island nations.
Tyson Chinn, an emerging track and field athlete, said the support will allow him to focus more fully on his Olympic goal.
“I’m very excited that I got the scholarship because it will help relieve my financial burdens as well as my training — sports equipment too,” Chinn said. “The Olympics has always been the final goal; I’m very excited.”
Sydney Francisco, who competed at the Paris Olympics, said the program played a key role in helping her reach the world stage previously.
“Since I was already able to go to the Olympics with the help of this scholarship before, I’m really grateful to receive it again,” Francisco said. “It’s a big help because it supports the costs that come with training, traveling, and preparing for competitions. It allows me to stay focused on improving as an athlete.”
Francisco said she hopes her journey encourages younger athletes in Palau to pursue sports and personal development.
“My goals are still the same: to become a better person and to be a good role model for the younger generation,” she said. “I’m also really excited about the upcoming Olympics and looking forward to the journey ahead.”
The scholarship program strengthens Palau’s athlete development efforts as the nation continues to build its presence in regional and international competitions.
The PNOC congratulated the nine recipients and said it will continue supporting their preparations as they work toward qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, representing Palau on the global stage. (Source: PNOC)