MANILA – Paris Olympian Lauren Hoffman is entering her second Asian Games with more experience and with a clean bill of health.
Hoffman will be competing in the women's 400m hurdles 4x400m relay events in athletics at the continental showcase.
"It's obviously like an incredible opportunity to represent the Philippines again. I love representing online big stages and world stages. So this isn't my first time, but it's still very special," Hoffman told ABS-CBN News in an online interview.
"I guess the goal hasn't changed, you know, I always want a medal when I go to these meets. Bringing a medal home to the Philippines is always, always the goal but yeah things have definitely changed. I've grown up a little bit. I've become more experienced. Become a little bit more of a vet in the track world," she added.
READ: Fil-Am hurdler Lauren Hoffman qualifies for Paris Olympics
The 27-year-old made her debut at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China in the same event, where she finished fifth place.
Three years later, Hoffman believes her experience from various competitions will help improve her performance in this year's continental meet.
"I've experienced more world stage appearances and bigger you know competitions, so I think I'm still very excited. But yeah, it's kind of nice to have that experience going into this one, you know," she said.
"I just felt a little bit more young and new to the world stages when I was an athlete in 2023. But like, you know 2026 now having a few more world stage appearances under my belt. So feeling a little bit more experienced going into it," Hoffman explained.
Aside from having more experience, the Filipino-American athlete is coming into her second Asiad healthier than her maiden appearance.
"I remember going into the last Asian Games, I was dealing with a little bit of a back injury which was kind of random really bad timing. Luckily, I have never had any back issues except for that one time," she shared.
READ: Paris 2024: Lauren Hoffman bows out of contention in hurdles
"I deal with some Achilles pain, but it's definitely gotten a lot better over the past year, two years, three years. So I'm learning how to manage it and we've been just hitting the ground hard and hurdling and sprinting and just trying to prepare as best as we can," the Olympian said.
Aside from focusing on her goal to win, Hoffman is also embracing the leadership role in the national team, especially with a younger squad heading to Japan.
"I love representing the Philippines and inspiring the next generation. I think that the team going to Asian games like the athletics team is very young and promising which is really exciting," Hoffman said.
"Now that I'm a little bit older, I kind of want to be a leader and kind of step up into that role and just like foster an environment of like family and girlhood and sisterhood. So I'm kind of excited to be like kind of more of a leader this time around," she added.
Hoffman brought home two bronze medals (women's 400m hurdles and women's 4x400m relay) from the 2025 Southeast Asian Games last December.
"I feel like a lot of these Asian meets whether it's SEA Games, Asian Games, Asian Champs, you're seeing a lot of the same competitors. So I know that some of the girls I ran against there will also be making appearances [in Japan]," she said.
"Having that experience is great because you know, you're always going to be like nervous on the day. But you know that you've been up against these girls and you could compete well so I feel like that helps with like the nerves a little bit," Hoffman added.
Despite achieving a season best at the SEA Games, Hoffman is determined to overcome any hurdle to achieve a gold medal.
"Hopefully I will run faster than I did there. I ran a season best there so I was proud of that but it still wasn't as fast as I wanted to go so I'll have to run a little bit faster here to place the top three and I think I can do it. So I'm excited to build upon that last meet," he 27-year-old said.
"I guess just like [I want to] realize my full potential in track. You know, I don't think I'm done yet so that's why I keep going – for God, for the Philippines, for myself," she shared.
With the Asian Games set to officially open in three days, Hoffman also has her sights set on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
"Absolutely. Yes, my sights are definitely set on LA. So hopefully I will make my second Olympic team. That would be so special. Obviously, nothing's guaranteed and that's a big goal of mine, but I think I can do it," Hoffman shared.
"I kind of want a redemption round for my last Olympics as well. So hopefully I'll be there at LA, that's definitely where my sights are set, but there are things in the meantime, other meets," she added.
Athletics at the Asian Games begins on September 23, with most events happening at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.