By Kristel Satumbaga
Maintaining mental toughness is as important as keeping in one’s physical condition.
Take the case of swimmer Ernie Gawilan, whose participation in the ASEAN Para Games and the Tokyo Paralympics has been scuttled by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
While he’s raring to see action the ASEAN Para Games after almost a year of training and sacrifices, the Davao City pride can’t do anything after it was postponed not only once but twice already.
Even the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics has been pushed to next year, two months after Gawilan earned a berth.
The 28-year-old Davao native didn’t mind the postponement, though, but admitted it has been months since he last trained at the pool.
“Sa ngayon po hinahanap na po talaga ng katawan ko yung tubig pero tinitiis ko lang para na rin sa kaligtasan ko,” said Gawilan, a 2014 Asian Para Games medalist.
“Pero kailangan din pong hindi tayo panghinaan ng loob, lahat naman po kasi ng araw may kanya-kanyang kalagayan. Malayo po natin magkaroon na kaagad ng gamut sa COVID-19, kaya para po sa akin, malakipo ang ginagampanan ng utak at puso ng tao.”
Without a pool to train, Gawilan has been forced to do dry training in his house since Samal Island has also been locked down.
Born with underdeveloped extremities on both legs and left limb, Gawilan focuses on strengthening his core and muscles.
He does not think much about the postponed competitions or the lack of training in the pool, saying that those were things that were not in his control.
“Nakakapanghinayang pero positive lang po. Marami pa naman pong pagkakataon at medyo mahaba pa naman po yung time para makapagensayo,” Gawilan said.
“Bawi na lang po kapag okay na ang lahat.”
Apart from monitoring their physical health, the Philippine Sports Commission is also concerned of the athletes’ mental well-being by posting the contact numbers of its sports psychologists on their social media accounts for their easy access.
