The uphill climb on the world sports stage continues for the Philippines as the 2024 Paris Paralympics runs from August 28 to September 8 (August 29 to September 9, Manila time), two weeks after the end of the country’s historic Summer Games run.
Following the exploits of double-gold gymnastics icon Carlos Yulo, the six-person Philippine Paralympic delegation is out to prove no obstacle is indeed too big for a Filipino to conquer, able-bodied or otherwise.
Likely on their final Paralympic runs, swimmer Ernie Gawilan and wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan are both out to make the most of their third Para Games appearances and hope to grow the Philippines’ small all-time medal haul of two bronzes.
On the younger side of the delegation, swimmer Angel Otom is looking to parlay a breakout 2023 ASEAN Para Games stint for a standout run among the world’s best.
Rounding out the Filipino group is a trio of promising underdogs: javelin thrower Cendy Asusano, world No. 30 para archer Agustina Bantiloc, and 2020 Tokyo Games taekwondo bet Allain Ganapin.
Medal hopes remain slim for the Philippines’ eighth Paralympics stint since debuting in 1988, but the Summer Games have proven that nothing is impossible for this small nation of big-hearted athletes.