MANILA, Philippines – Angel Otom set the stage for a highly intriguing future in Paralympic swimming as she finished sixth overall in the women’s 50-meter backstroke S5 with an exact 44-second finish in Paris on Tuesday, September 3 (Wednesday, September 4, Manila time).
China swept the podium as predicted with world record holder and reigning world champion Lu Dong dominating the field off a 37.51-second gold-medal clincher for her seventh career Paralympic title.
He Shenggao clocked in at 39.93 seconds for silver, while Liu Yu nabbed bronze with a time of 42.37 seconds.
Despite the eventual sixth-place finish, the 21-year-old Otom was visibly running for third in the first 25 meters after an exceptional start, before the Olongapo native faded in the second half of the water sprint and was taken over by Liu and the other earlier finishers.
Otom, born with no left arm and an underdeveloped right arm, reached the final after passing the heats with a 44.03-second tally, good for fourth in heat 1 and seventh overall.
The seven-time ASEAN Para Games gold medalist returns to action for one last Paris medal shot in the women’s 50m butterfly on Thursday, September 5 (Friday, September 6, Manila time). – Rappler.com