BEIJING—Long-jumper Henry Dagmil grimaced as Todd Reiter worked on an old injury in the Filipino’s shoulder.

Todd who?

Reiter is a 44-year-old American who is a chiropractor since 1989. He came to the Philippines and earned his degree as a doctor at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical College.

“I thank my wife for that,” Reiter told the BusinessMirror right after working on Dagmil, who is bound to compete Saturday at the Bird’s Nest here.

Reiter married the former Amby Cruz, a Filipina from Antipolo, whom he met in Minnesota. He came to the Philippines to take up medicine. Their marriage bore four kids.

Now, Reiter works as the US sports medical coordinator for the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). His task is to set up Filipino athletes training in the US to American doctors. He got the job through Dr. Martin Camara, the chiropractor of Team Philippines in the Beijing Games.

Reiter owns a credential that fits the POC’s purpose for Filipino athletes just right. He is on the board of the International Sports Chiropractic Association (ISCA), an organization that attends to patients who are members of the World Olympians Association.

“It came out of a need,” said Reiter on his involvement with the POC. “As to my job at the ISCA, we are basically on strengthening, stretching and muscle activity and pain management.”

Asked if he would like to bring his expertise full-time in the country, he said: “I love the Philippines, but I am an American citizen.”

Bets hope to add gold to RP’s 9 Olympic medals

BEIJING—The 29th edition of the Olympics here marks the 19th time the Philippines has participated in the quadrennial Games. But since Paris in 1924, Filipino athletes could only bring home a total nine medals, none of them gold.

A Modest Goal

BEIJING—Miguel Molina competes in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke heats in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Tuesday night with a modest goal of breaking his own national record.

Canada’s best a Filipino

BEIJING—Mark Javier is the Philippines’ lone representative in the 2008 Beijing Olympics archery competitions, but he is not the only full-blooded Filipino here.

Harry hardly knows foe from Ghana

BEIJING—Harry Tañamor had his routine afternoon nap after his prelunch workout Monday, two days before he steps into the ring against a foe from Ghana he hardly knows.

GMA pledges $15m for wushu gold, too

BEIJING—President Arroyo proved true to her word and visited Team Philippines’ residential unit Sunday afternoon at the posh Olympic Village.

Age a plus for shooter Ang

BEIJING—All is not lost for Eric Ang, the country’s lone representative in shooting in the Beijing 2008 Olympics, who finished dead last in the men’s individual trap Sunday.

American massages Olympians’ pains away

BEIJING—Long-jumper Henry Dagmil grimaced as Todd Reiter worked on an old injury in the Filipino’s shoulder.

Todd who?

A Billion Do Care

BEIJING—Yao Ming hit a rare three-pointer Sunday to open the most watched basketball game in recorded history—East or West—and the earth moved.

Two real Olympic heroines

BEIJING—Someone ought to inform Michael Phelps that no matter how many gold medals he wins, no matter how many records he obliterates or primal screams he unleashes, he cannot emerge as the hero of the 2008 Olympics.

Tough Turf: IOC must set simple Olympics opening

THAT spectacular opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympics on August 8 really thrilled the whole world no end.

From the opening presentation up to the staging of the magnificent fireworks display, millions of viewers were kept hanging by the edge of their seats, waiting on what would come next.