ASIAN Para Games 2018 swimming triple gold medalist Ernie Gawilan aims to defend his men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 gold medal in the 10th Asean Para Games, which the country will host in March 2020 instead of January 18 to 25.
The 28-year-old, who hails from Paquibato District and learned swimming in the Island Garden City of Samal from his grandfather who adopted him when he was orphaned, said, “Paningkamutan nako na makuha gihapon nako ang 400m freestyle (I’ll do my best to retain my 400m freestyle).”
He said that smashing his record anew might not be possible this time just like in 2015.
“Gusto ungta nako magbreak napud ang akong record pero murag alanganin ko kay 25 meters rako nag-train. Bag-o lang mi nag-training sa 50 meters (I really want to break my own record but I’m not confident since I had been training in a 25-meter pool. We only started training in a 50-meter pool just recently),” Gawilan said during an interview with Sun.Star Davao at the PhilSports dorm canteen on December 12.
In the 9th Asean Para Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Rio Paralympian brought home a total of two golds and two bronzes. His other gold was in 200-meter individual medley, which he said is not his favorite event. But he assured to still give his best in the event.
The Philippines’ overall championship victory in the recently-concluded 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, according to him, boosts para athletes’ morale as well going into Asean Para Games.
He added, “Dagdag motivation (It motivates us more).”
He has invested part of his millions of cash incentives after the Asian Para Games in Jakarta, Indonesia last year to a 920-square meter lot in Igacos while the rest are on bank time deposit.
Gawilan was born without feet and incomplete arm due to the effects of abortion pills her mother took during pregnancy. He was only five months old when his mother died of cholera while he was barely five when his father passed away due to tuberculosis.
Meanwhile, Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) president Michael Barredo Friday, December 20, confirmed that the 10th Asean Paragames will be rescheduled due to funding constraints and logistical considerations, according to a Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) press statement furnished to SunStar Davao.
The Para Games is a twin event of the SEA Games that closed on December 11, 2019.
Barredo, as quoted by PSC, said that “While we have made every effort to prepare the Games in the past one and a half years, matters well beyond our control are compelling us to reschedule the event.”
PPC has reportedly endorsed the new schedule to the Asean Para Sports Federation and requested PSC to also relay the development to other Asean counterparts.