Paralympics: Ernie Gawilan responds to challenge with strong finish

The Philippines’ Ernie Gawilan competes in the final of the men’s 400m freestyle-S7 at the Aquatic Sports Arena in the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre during the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, in China’s eastern Zhejiang province on October 24, 2023. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP)

PARIS—Vertically challenged from the rest of the competition, Ernie Gawilan didn’t let the disability deny him a solid finish in the 17th Paralympic Games.

Gawilan kept his world ranking intact by finishing sixth in the men’s 400-meter freestyle S7 late Monday evening before an appreciative crowd at the Paris La Defense Arena.

“Just one look at all the swimmers in my category, I’m the only one who appears to have a disability,” said Gawilan in Filipino after reaching the wall in 5:03.18 on his farewell event in these Games.

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“But I never backed down,” he added.

Lacking both legs and an underdeveloped left arm, the 33-year-old two-time Paralympian from Davao City walked with his knees to the starting platform, dwarfed by the opposition adjacent to him.

“They are really taller than me. I just didn’t let it distract me,” said Gawilan, who remained sixth overall in the para swimming world rankings in the event following a similar performance in the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics.

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Italy’s Federico Bicelli struck gold in 4:38.70, leaving the 6-foot-1 silver medalist Andrii Trusov of Ukraine behind in the last 150 meters for the surprise victory.

Argentina’s Inaki Basiloff, the gold performer in the 200m individual medley SM7 where Gawilan also competed, settled for the bronze in 4:40.27.

Gawilan, a double-gold winner in the 400m free at the Asian Para Games, topped his heat earlier with a time of 5:00.13 to outrace the towering Trusov and Basiloff.