Angel Otom Powers Philippine Medal Haul with Record-Breaking Swim in Thailand
Philippine swimmer Angel Otom delivered a stunning performance at the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, on Friday, January 23, 2026, securing her third gold medal and shattering a long-standing record in the process. The 22-year-old athlete clocked an impressive time of one minute and 43.87 seconds in the women's 100-meter backstroke S4–S5 event, held at the 80th Birthday Aquatics Center.
Historic Record Smashed in Backstroke Event
Otom's remarkable swim erased an 18-year-old record previously held by Thailand's Junkum Thatananatch, who set a time of 2:33.66 during the 2008 Nakhon Ratchasima Para Games. This achievement marks a significant milestone in para swimming, showcasing Otom's dedication and skill on the international stage.
Otom Adds Fourth Gold in Freestyle, Reflects on Paris Lessons
Later in the day, Otom continued her dominance by winning another gold medal in the women's 200-meter freestyle S5, finishing with a time of 3:44.49. Supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Paralympic Committee, she attributed her success to lessons learned from disappointments at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
"From Paris, I had many disappointments and I opened up about them. From now on, those became real lessons for me, and the lesson I learned is to fight," said Otom, a student at the University of the Philippines. She emphasized the importance of self-trust, adding, "There are times, even in the call room, when you feel you can't do it — but you have to trust. Sometimes it's hard to apply that trust to yourself, but we must believe in ourselves."
Philippine Team Shines Across Multiple Sports
The Philippine delegation saw strong performances from other athletes as well:
- Veteran swimmer Ernie Gawilan contributed a silver medal in the men's 100m freestyle S7 with a time of 1:09.32.
- In athletics, King James Reyes won gold in the men's 1,500-meter T46, clocking 4:17.93 at the 80th Birthday Stadium on Thursday.
- Cyril Ongcoy set a new meet record in the men's 1,500m T12 with a time of 4:26.32, breaking the previous mark set by Timor Leste's Domingos Pereira Lobato.
- Debutant Alyana Nuñez made an immediate impact by winning gold in the women's discus throw F11 with a distance of 25.24 meters.
Medal Standings and Upcoming Events
As of 4 p.m. Friday (Manila time), the Philippines stood fourth overall in the medal standings with 18 gold, 19 silver, and 18 bronze medals, trailing Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Otom, who now owns four gold medals and one silver, will aim to close her campaign strong in the women's 50m freestyle S4–S5 and the mixed 4×50m medley relay (20 points, S1–S10) on Saturday.
