Paulino dreams of LA 2028 stint alongside Gawilan

Christian Benedict Paulino, a 20-year-old swimmer from Quezon City, dreams of racing alongside his idol, three-time Paralympian Ernie Gawilan, at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Games.

“I’ve been closely following Ernie’s performances; he’s my idol,” Paulino said after securing the first gold medal of the 2024 Philippine National Para Games (PNPG) on Monday.

Paulino clocked six minutes, 55.61 seconds in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S6 and S7 classifications, comfortably beating Zach Lucas Obsioma of Cadiz City (8:27.50) at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

“Ernie and I share the same class. I hope I can join him in LA,” said Paulino, who works as a swimming instructor for children and seniors.

Gawilan, the first Filipino to win gold at the Asian Para Games, represented the Philippines in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro, 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. He specializes in the 400-m freestyle S7 and the 200-m individual medley SM7, where he has won multiple medals.

Sharing the same congenital impairment of underdeveloped legs, Paulino draws inspiration from Gawilan’s success.

“Winning my first gold here in the PNPG is special, but the ultimate dream is the Paralympics,” Paulino said.

In other results, James Ang, 18, of Marikina City, won the men’s 800-m T20 with a time of 2:08.9, finishing ahead of Mark Jason Encina of Pasig City and Earl Justin Solis from Iloilo in the classification for para track and field athletes with intellectual disability. INQ