Six Filipino Paralympians to Compete for the Philippines at the 2024 Paris Paralympics
Ethan Karl Dumo | Staffer | The OLPSian Times
On August 28, 2024, six athletes will represent the Philippines at the Paralympics in Paris. The Filipino representatives will battle it out on the sports that include para-swimming, para-taekwondo, para-archery, para-athletics (men’s wheelchair racing), and para-athletics (women’s javelin throw).
Filipino swimmer Ernie Agat Gawilan hails from Davao City. Ernie is a survivor of an unsuccessful abortion, which led to the loss of both legs and an undeveloped left limb. But he never gave up on his passion for swimming and made significant contributions to the Asian Para Games. He previously earned two bronze medals, and he won the Philippines’ first-ever gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Para Games.
Despite being born without both arms from birth, swimmer Angel Otom is an amazing swimmer. Angel Otom created history at the 12th ASEAN Para Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which began on June 3, 2023. She became the first Filipino athlete to win four gold medals in the tournament, demonstrating her exceptional abilities in the women’s 50-meter backstroke S5, 50-meter butterfly S5, 50-meter freestyle S5, and 200-meter individual medley SM5.
Angel Otom continued to dominate the water at the 2024 Citi Para Swimming World Series in Singapore, winning one gold and one silver medal. Her outstanding performance solidified her status as a key figure in paraswimming.
Jerrold Pete Macabio Mangliwan is a well-known wheelchair racer from the Philippines. He represented the Philippines in two Paralympic Games, in 2016 and 2020. His most significant accomplishment is the T52 categorization. Mangliwan’s para-athletic career began in college, when a buddy persuaded him to try wheelchair racing in 2009. During Mangliwan’s time, he attempted some sports, including wheelchair basketball, but he eventually found his place and greatest success in wheelchair racing, which changed his life.
Women’s javelin thrower Cendy Asusano is a back-to-back gold medalist paraathlete. She was born with Spina Bifida, which limited her movement throughout her life. Cendy Asusano won another gold medal at the 12th ASEAN Para Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Since 2017, she has dominated the ASEAN Para Games, frequently defeating her opponents in the shot put and javelin throw events.
Allain Keanu Ganapin is a para-athlete who had his arm amputated due to a birth defect. Ganapin has been a member of the Philippine National Team since 2015. Ganapin won the bronze medal in the 2017 Oceania Para-Taekwondo Championships in Auckland, New Zealand. Following that, in Amman, Jordan’s capital and city, on May 20, 2021, Allain earned a bronze medal in the men’s 44-75 kg division but was unable to qualify for the Paralympics because only the winner is eligible.
Para-archery athlete Agustina Bantiloc won gold in the Southeast Asian Nation Para Games and the ASEAN Para Games and competed for the Philippines in a variety of para-athletic sports.
The Philippines’s Para-Athletes Team for 2024 is ready to make history. Let’s stand behind them and cheer them on as they compete for gold. Their determination, hard work, and talents inspire us all. Let us keep our passion for talents and courage to show the world what Filipinos are capable of.
