MANILA, Philippines – Filipina para swimmer Angel Otom fell short of a medal anew as she ended her run in the Paris Paralympics.
Otom finished fifth in the final of the women’s 50m butterfly S5 at the Paris La Defense Arena on Friday, September 6.
The pride of Olongapo City reached the wall in 45.78 seconds as powerhouse China dominated the race, with Lu Dong striking gold following a record-breaking performance.
Lu shattered the world record and her own Paralympic mark by clocking 38.17 seconds to edge compatriot He Shenggao and capture her fourth gold of these Games and ninth overall in the history of the quadrennial showpiece.
He, who held the previous world record of 39.32 seconds, settled for silver with a time of 38.98 seconds.
Challenged by Otom for the third spot in the first half of the race, Turkey’s Sevilay Ozturk pulled away in the final 25 meters and registered 43.70 seconds to bag the bronze.
Otom ran fourth in the final stretch but got overtaken by China’s Cheng Jiao, who logged 45.60 seconds.
Despite missing out on a podium finish, the 21-year-old Otom — born with no left arm and an underdeveloped right arm — showed promise in her Paralympic debut as she reached the final of her two events.
Otom, a seven-time gold medalist in the ASEAN Para Games, made the final of the women’s 50m backstroke S5 as well, placing sixth in the race also ruled by Dong and swept by China.
With Otom ending her campaign, the task of winning the country its third Paralympic medal now falls on the shoulders of para javelin thrower Cendy Asusano, the last athlete standing from the six-strong Filipino delegation.
Asusano will compete on Saturday, September 7. – Rappler.com