A overview shows (From L) The Philipines’ Angel Mae Otom, China’s Shenggao He and Turkey’s Sumeyye Boyaci competing in a heat of the Women’s 50m Backstroke S5 swimming event during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games at the Paris La Defence Arena, in Nanterre, west of Paris, on September 3, 2024. (Photo by FranÁois-Xavier MARIT / AFP)
PARIS—As the booming music engulfed the entire La Defense Arena, Angel Mae Otom wiggled to the beat, making every moment of her first Paralympic Games a memorable undertaking.
“I’m really super proud that I’m here to experience this. Of course, I felt a little bit nervous, but overall I’m happy,” said the bubbly and smiling Otom in Filipino after progressing to the medal race of the women’s 50-meter backstroke S5 event on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old Otom secured the spot to the early Wednesday morning final by placing fourth in the first of two heats (44.03 seconds).
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China’s Lu Dong, the world paralympic record holder, made her presence felt in the qualifying races, leading the cast in 39.48 seconds.
The Chinese trio that included He Shenggao (41.31) and Liu Yu (42.59) topped the heats.
“She will definitely go all out in the final. But for now, Angel takes a rest as we prepare her mentally for the next race,” said national para swimming coach Bryan Ong.
Otom, the country’s quadruple gold medalist in the Asean Para Games last year in Cambodia, just went through the motions of qualifying and promised her best in the final.
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“We just secured the time for this and we’re hoping for a better performance in the final,” said Ong.
Considered as a medal prospect for the Philippine Paralympic team here under the Philippine Paralympic Committee and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Otom is likewise entered in the women’s 50m butterfly S5 where she’s also the Asean Para Games champion.
A third-year irregular student at the UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics, the armless Otom is No. 5 in the 50m backstroke in the para swimming world rankings.
“If I can describe this experience in one word, I guess it’s `fantastic’,” said Otom.