Paralympics 2024: PH swimmer Ernie Gawilan bows out in 200m medley

FILE–Ernie Gawilan is competing in the Paris Paralympics 2024. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

PARIS—Ernie Gawilan missed the cut of the men’s 200-meter individual medley SM7 in the 17th Paralympic Games.

Gawilan clocked two minutes and 56.39 seconds, winding up sixth in the second of two heats held Saturday at the Paris La Defense Arena on Saturday.

Ukraine’s Andrii Trusov led Gawilan’s heat in 2:35.80, eventually topping the qualifying swim for the gold-medal race set early Sunday morning.

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“We just swam the event to prepare Ernie for the 400m freestyle,’’ said national para swimming coach Tony Ong.

Gawilan, on his second stint in these Games, is a strong medal bet in the men’s 400m freestyle S7 scheduled Monday.

The 33-year-old para swimmer from Davao City is a two-time gold winner in the event at the Asian Para Games back in 2018 Jakarta, Indonesia and 2022 Hangzhou, China.

“He found the individual medley race difficult. Let’s see how he performs on Monday,’’ said Ong.