By Kristel Satumbaga
SWIMMER Ernie Gawilan is saddened with the cancellation of the ASEAN Para Games cancellation but is choosing to remain positive on future tournaments he’s scheduled to compete including the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics rescheduled next year.
Gawilan, however, was saddened by the missed opportunities of his young teammates as he took his ‘big brother’ role in the team to heart.
“Nanghihinayang po, hindi lang po para sa akin kundi doon sa mga baguhan. Pero pandaigdigang problema po ito kaya walang ibang choice kundi tanggapin lang,” he said.
Gawilan is currently quarantined in Samal Island after all national athletes were forced to go home due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Though quarantine restrictions were eased, he said he hasn’t trained in the pool yet.
“Wala pa rin po kasing bukas na resort dito,” Gawilan said.
Gawilan is the first Filipino to qualify in the Tokyo Paralympics following his golden performance at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Indonesia.
He topped the 400-meter freesteyles (S7 class), 100m backstroke (S7 class), and 200m individual medley (SM7 class) to earn qualification points.
However, he will still need to compete in one more Paralympic Qualifier to reclassify his disability—limb deficiency—before finalizing his entry to the Tokyo Games.
Getting into peak form is a challenge for Gawilan because all he has been doing is land training. He hopes to plunge into the pool soon.
This will be Gawilan’s second Olympics after debuting at the 2016 Rio Games.
