Just because the 2020 Summer Olympics has ended doesn’t mean that the Games this year have ended. On the contrary, the 2020 Summer Paralympics is coming up very soon and some of our local athletes will be vying for medals.
The 2020 Summer Paralympic Games will still be held in Tokyo beginning August 24. Here are all the Filipino athletes who will be competing in the Games, proving yet again that disability shouldn’t hinder anyone from gunning for gold:
Achelle Guion (Powerlifting)
Achelle Guion is our sole powerlifting bet in the coming Summer Paralympics. She first competed in the 2012 London Paralympics, where she placed sixth. Achelle Guion will be competing in the women’s -45kg final, which is scheduled to take place on August 26.
Allain Ganapin (Taekwondo)
At birth, Allain Ganapin had to go through an operation that amputated his right arm up to his elbow. Fast forward many years later, the taekwondo jin is about to compete in the Summer Paralympic Games this year. Allain Ganapin will compete in the men’s K44 -75kg division.
Ernie Gawilan (Swimming)
Ernie Gawilan is one of two swimming bets our country will field for the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. He will compete in three different events, according to a report by Rappler: 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke, and 400m freestyle.
Gary Bejino (Swimmin)
The second swimming bet of the country for the upcoming Paralympic Games, Gary Bejino, whose arm and leg had to be amputated when he was a kid due to an electric shock, will compete in four different events: 50m butterfly, 100m breaststroke, 400m freestyle, and 200m individual medley.
Jeanette Aceveda (Athletics)
The Philippines will have two para-athletes who will compete for a gold medal in athletics. One of these two athletes is discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda, who secured a bipartite slot for the Games last June.
Jerrold Mangliwan (Athletics)
The second athletics bet of the Philippines, wheelchair racer Jerrold Mangliwan competed in the Para Athletics 2021 Grand Prix in Nottwil, Switzerland to secure his slot for the Paralympic Games. He clocked a minute and 2.17 seconds during the competition.
Read Also: It is time to look at Pinoy athletes beyond boxing and basketball
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