The Davao Torpedo is back in the Paralympics.
Davao City para swimming star Ernie Gawilan has punched a ticket to the 2024 Paris Paralympics, according to the Philippine Sports Commission.
Gawilan, who previously saw action in the Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo editions of the quadrennial showpiece, clinched the covered Paralympics slot through the Standard Slot Qualification Allocation Method where each national paralympic committee, like the Philippine Paralympic Committee, will be given slots for one male and one female para swimmer based on their world rankings.
Gawilan has previously competed in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio and 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. He has also won gold medals in the 2018 and 2022 editions of the Asian Para Games and in the ASEAN Para Games in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2022.
“Maraming salamat po, Philippine Sports Commission, sa patuloy na suporta sa amin at sa aming NSA na laging andiyan para sa aming mga PWD athletes, NPC-Philippines at sa mga naniniwala sa amin (Thank you to the PSC for the support and also to our national sports association for always being there for disabled athletes, as well as to our national Paralympic committee and to those that believed in us),” Gawilan wrote on his Facebook page.
Joining Gawilan to the Paris Paralympics is fellow swimmer Angel Otom who bagged four gold medals in the 2023 edition of the ASEAN Para Games in Cambodia.
