NATIONAL para swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Angel Mae Otom are poised to qualify for the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games based on their finishes and times in their respective events in the just-concluded 12th Para Swimming World Championships in Manchester, England.
“Ernie and Angel finished fourth in the men’s 400-meter S7 and women’s 50-meter backstroke S5 and based on their times, they are going to qualify for the Paris Paralympic Games,” said national para swimming coach Tony Ong, who arrived with the swimmers last Tuesday,
Gawilan clocked four minutes and 59.94 seconds in winding up fourth in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 while Otom timed 43.61 seconds in placing fourth in the women’s 50-meter backstroke S5 event at the Manchester Aquatics Center.
“Their invitation papers are expected to be issued on Feb. 1, 2024 by the International Paralympic Committee a day after the official cut-off date on Jan. 31, 2024,” Ong said.
A double gold medalist in the Cambodia Asean Para Games, Gawilan is set to compete in his third Paralympic Games after qualifying for the Rio and Tokyo editions of the global festival for para athletes.
The most bemedalled para swimmer in the Cambodia Games with four mints, the limbless yet bubbly Otom will make her debut in the Paralympics scheduled Aug. 28 to Sept. 8 next year in the French capital.
Ong said the third Pinoy para tanker who saw action, Gary Bejino, did not fare well because he got sick after returning from the Cambodia Asean Para Games last June and was unable to whip himself into proper shape in time for the world meet.
“Nagkasakit si Gary from the hot weather in Cambodia and wasn’t able to recover enough in Manchester where it was cold, windy and rainy,” Ong said.
Ong said that “we also had to battle jet lag since we only arrived two days before the actual competition and because the finals of the events (were held) in the evening when it was like very early morning back in Manila. Mahirap maka-adjust.”
