Paralympics 2024: Otom wants consistency ahead of butterfly final

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—Angel Mae Otom kept her speedy pace off the blocks until reaching the wall to progress to her second medal race in the 17th Paralympic Games.

“This is how I should perform in the final. My speed has to be consistent from start to finish,” said Otom after landing third in her heat in 46.85 seconds on Friday during the women’s 50-meter butterfly S5 preliminaries at the La Defense Arena, Europe’s biggest indoor stadium.

Ranked No. 2 in the world in the event, the 21-year-old Otom placed fifth overall after the qualification heats with China’s Lu Dong, a hands-down favorite in the final after zooming ahead of the field in 40.50 seconds.

READ: Paralympics 2024: Angel Otom rues ‘bad swim’ in missed medal bid

China’s He Shenggao, who claimed the silver medal behind Lu in the 50m backstroke where Otom likewise swam, checked in second overall in 43.11 and Turkey’s Sevilay Ozturk third in 44.70.

“Angel swam better compared to her previous event. She took to heart the pointers that she got from (para swimming head) coach Tony (Ong), which is to maintain her speed until the finishing part of the race,” said deputy para swimming coach Bryan Ong.

Filipino officials led by Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann and Philippine Paralympic Committee president Michael Barredo came in full force to witness Otom, considered as the nation’s best medal hope in these Games for the finest physically challenged athletes in the world.

Also cheering at the sidelines are PSC commissioner Fritz Gaston, executive director Paolo Tatad, PPC secretary general Goody Custodio, PPC director for para sports development Milette Bonoan, Team Philippines chef de mission Ral Rosario and UP College of Human Kinetics dean Francis Diaz.

READ: Paralympics 2024: Beaming Angel Otom upbeat ahead of medal race

“I didn’t hold back in this race and I’m determined to be better in the final,” said Otom, a third-year student from the UP Diliman College of Human Kinetics.

Otom missed out on a medal in the final of the 50m backstroke after finishing fifth. But with two final appearances, the 21-year-old from Olongapo City is hands-down the country’s best performer in these Games.

The armless Otom was the most bemedalled para athlete in the Asean Para Games last year in Cambodia with four gold medals, including her current event the 50m butterfly.