06 Feb 2016 Paralympian ERNIE GAWILAN is one of the most decorated Para Athlete of the Philippines
The Filipino Para swimmer is a perennial ASEAN Para Games gold medalist, with a total collection of 7 golds in the Biennial Meet, since 2014.
Gawilan is also an ASEAN Games record holder in the men’s 400 meter freestyle (S8) event with a time record of 4:48.49 and in the men’s 200 meter individual medley (S8), with a clocking of 2:47.46.
In 2018, the phenomenal swimmer from Davao del Sur carved out his legacy in the history as the first ever Filipino Para athlete swimmer to win a gold medal in the Asian Para Games. The 27 – year old Aquatics sports hero also made a giant wave for setting a new games record in the men’s 400 meter freestyle (S7 Class) with a registered time of 04:51.00, making his 3 gold and 2 silver medal harvest in the 3rd edition of the prestigious Asian Quadrennial Para sports spectacle more iconic.
Next stop for the small but terrible swimmer is the upcoming ASEAN Para Games here in the country in January 2020.