Filipina para swimmer Angel Otom finished fifth in the women’s 50m butterfly S5 final at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, marking the end of her debut.
Competing at the Paris La Defense Arena on September 6, Otom clocked a time of 45.78 seconds. The event was dominated by China’s Lu Dong, who captured gold with a record-breaking performance of 38.17 seconds, surpassing her previous world and Paralympic records. He Shenggao, also from China, took silver with a time of 38.98 seconds, besting her own previous world record of 39.32 seconds.
Otom posed a significant challenge for third place in the initial stages of the race but was ultimately outpaced by Turkey’s Sevilay Ozturk, who secured bronze with a time of 43.70 seconds. In the final stretch, Otom was overtaken by China’s Cheng Jiao, who finished just ahead with a time of 45.60 seconds.
Despite not securing a podium finish, the 21-year-old Otom demonstrated her potential throughout her Paralympic debut. Born with no left arm and an underdeveloped right arm, she reached the finals in both of her events. In addition to her fifth-place finish in the butterfly event, she also placed sixth in the women’s 50m backstroke S5, another event dominated by Chinese swimmers led by Lu Dong.
Otom’s performance in Paris follows her success as a seven-time gold medalist in the ASEAN Para Games. Her achievements indicate a promising future for the young athlete, underscoring her resilience and competitive spirit on the international stage.
With Otom concluding her events, the responsibility of capturing a third Paralympic medal for the Philippines now rests on para javelin thrower Cendy Asusano. Asusano is the last remaining athlete from the six-member Filipino delegation and will compete on September 7.
Angel Otom’s first Paralympic appearance showcased her remarkable talent and determination, setting the stage for future accomplishments in her athletic career.
Source: Rappler