Filipina para-swimmer Otom finishes fifth at Paris Paralympics

Filipina para-swimmer Angel Mae Otom has qualified for her second medal race at the Paris Paralympics but finished fifth with a time of 45.78 seconds on Friday, September 6.

Otom overcame pre-competition anxiety to set a personal best and narrowly missed securing a medal despite strong competition from Chinese swimmer Lu Dong, who broke the world record with a time of 38.17 seconds.

Lu Dong secured gold, followed by He Shenggao in silver (38.98 seconds) and Sevilay Ozturk of Turkey in bronze (43.70 seconds).

Otom's fifth-place finish marks the end of her Paralympic campaign where she showed promise as a rising star in Philippine para-swimming, with her coach Tony Ong expressing optimism for future performances.

The country's sports officials have chosen Otom to be the flag-bearer at the closing ceremony of the 17th Paralympics due to her remarkable performance and achievements during the Games.

Philippine sports officials witnessed Otom's qualification swim earlier in the Games, and now the task of winning the country’s third Paralympic medal falls to Cendy Asusano, who will compete in the women's javelin throw F54 event on Saturday.