Ernie Gawilan
{{Short description|Filipino Paralympic swimmer}}
{{Philippine name|Agat|Gawilan}}
{{Infobox swimmer|
| name = Ernie Gawilan
| image = Ernie Gawilan Asian Games 2018 medals (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Gawilan in 2018
| fullname = Ernie Agat Gawilan
| nicknames =
| nationality = {{PHI}}
| classification = S8, SB7, SM8
S7, SB7, SM7
| strokes = butterfly, backstroke, freestyle
| club =
| coach =
| collegeteam =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|05|05}}
| birth_place = Paquibato, Davao City, Philippines
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height =
| weight =
| show-medals = no
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's paralympic swimming}}
{{MedalCountry | {{PHI}} }}
{{MedalCount|total=yes
|Asian Para Games|4|2|4
|ASEAN Para Games|9|3|3
}}
{{MedalCompetition | Asian Para Games}}
{{MedalGold | 2018 Jakarta | 400m freestyle S7}}
{{MedalGold | 2018 Jakarta | 100m backstroke S7}}
{{MedalGold | 2018 Jakarta | 200m individual medley SM7}}
{{MedalGold | 2022 Hangzhou|400m freestyle S7}}
{{MedalSilver | 2018 Jakarta | 100m freestyle S7}}
{{MedalSilver | 2018 Jakarta | 50m freestyle S7}}
{{MedalBronze | 2014 Incheon | 200m individual medley SM8}}
{{MedalBronze | 2014 Incheon | 400m freestyle S8}}
{{MedalBronze | 2014 Incheon | 100m freestyle S8}}
{{MedalBronze | 2022 Hangzhou|200m individual medley SM7}}
{{MedalCompetition | ASEAN Para Games}}
{{MedalGold | 2014 Napyidaw | 200m individual medley SM8 }}
{{MedalGold | 2014 Napyidaw | 400m freestyle S8 }}
{{MedalGold | 2014 Napyidaw | 100m freestyle S8 }}
{{MedalGold | 2015 Singapore | 200m individual medley SM8 }}
{{MedalGold | 2015 Singapore | 400m freestyle S8 }}
{{MedalGold | 2017 Kuala Lumpur | 200m individual medley SM8 }}
{{MedalGold | 2017 Kuala Lumpur | 400m freestyle S8 }}
{{MedalGold | 2022 Surakarta | 200m individual medley SM7 }}
{{MedalGold | 2022 Surakarta | 400m freestyle S7 TF }}
{{MedalSilver | 2015 Singapore | 100m freestyle S8 }}
{{MedalSilver | 2017 Kuala Lumpur | 100m butterfly S8 }}
{{MedalSilver | 2022 Surakarta | 100m backstroke S7 }}
{{MedalBronze | 2017 Kuala Lumpur | 4×100m freestyle relay 34 pts }}
{{MedalBronze | 2017 Kuala Lumpur | 4×100m medley relay 34 pts }}
{{MedalBronze | 2022 Surakarta | 4×100m freestyle relay }}
}}
Ernie Agat Gawilan is a Filipino swimmer who competed at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Paralympics and was the first gold medalist for the Philippines in the Asian Para Games.
Early life
Gawilan was born in the Paquibato district of Davao City{{cite news|last1=Bravo|first1=Neil|title=Ernie Gawilan won't let illness stand in the way of his Paralympic Games dream|url=http://www.spin.ph/para-sports/news/dabawenyo-paralympic-swimmer-ernie-gawilan-leaves-with-high-hopes-to-rio|accessdate=1 September 2016|publisher=Sports Interactive Network Philippines|date=31 August 2016}} with underdeveloped extremities resulting to him lacking both legs and an underdeveloped left limb due to surviving an attempted abortion and poor pre-natal healthcare in the Marilog District of Davao City. He was orphaned at the young age after his father left him. His mother died of cholera when he was still five months old and his father left Ernie and his mother after the patriarch discovered his mother's infidelity. His grandfather took custody of him until when Ernie Gawilan met businessman Vicente Ferrazzini when he was nine years old. Ferrazzini convinced Gawilan's grandfather to send him to Davao City proper in a training center for the handicapped.{{cite news|last1=Bravo|first1=Neil|title=Enie Gawilan: Dreamchaser|url=http://www.edgedavao.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=26172:ernie-gawilan-dreamchaser&catid=51:on-the-cover&Itemid=265|accessdate=27 August 2016|work=Edge Davao|date=14 May 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Bravo|first1=Neil|title=Legless pool wonder Ernie Gawilan won't let anything stand in the way of his Olympic dream|url=http://www.spin.ph/fitness-health/active-lifestyle/legless-swimming-wonder-ernie-gawilan-survived-abortion-and-orphaned-childhood-and-now-dreams-of-being-an-olympian|accessdate=27 August 2016|publisher=Sports Interactive Network Philippines|date=11 November 2014}}
In the city, he reside at the Our Lady of Victory Training Center with other handicapped youth under the custody of the Maryknoll sisters of St. Dominic. Gawilan was taken care of by Cecilia Wood, a nun who served as director at the center from 1989 to 2010.{{cite news |last1=Bravo |first1=neil |title=Orphan Gawilan now P4M richer after Asian Para Games gold rush |url=https://www.spin.ph/multisport/para-sports/orphan-gawilan-now-p4m-richer-after-asian-para-games-gold-rush-a808-20181018?ref=home_feed_1 |accessdate=18 October 2018 |work=Sports Interactive Network Philippines |date=18 October 2018}} Gawilan studied Holy Cross of Sasa for his high school studies and finished at least his second year studies.{{cite news|last1=Roque|first1=Marilyn|title=Champion swimmer Ernie Gawilan to compete again|url=http://mindanaotimes.net/scene-city-champion-swimmer-ernie-gawilan-to-compete-again/|accessdate=27 August 2016|work=Scene City|publisher=Mindanao Times|date=24 January 2015}} on May 5, 1991{{cite web|title=GAWILAN Ernie A|url=https://www.paralympic.org/static/info/glasgow-2015/ENG/ZB/ZBB101A_GL2015SW@@@@@@@ENG_number=8916.htm|website=Official Website of the Paralympic Movement|publisher=International Paralympic Committee|accessdate=27 August 2016}}
Ernie Gawilan was brought to Samal Island in 2000 where he worked as a housekeeper of another training center operated by nuns. It was at this place that Gawilan took up swimming.
Career
Gawilan was scouted by swimming coach Mark Jude Corpuz when Corpuz saw him struggling to swim. Corpuz made Gawilan part of a persons with disability (PWD) swimming team he was handling and the Forest Hills resort pool became a place for Gawilan to train. Gawilan's first swimming competition was the 2008 Philippine Olympic Festival which was held in Cagayan de Oro, he was almost disqualified after competition officials learned that he forgot his swimming trunks but was allowed to compete wearing bulky cargo pants. Gawilan finished second in the competition which included members of PWD national team. The first placer, a native of Iligan and PWD national team member urged him to go to Manila and Gawilan became a member of the national team himself.
He has joined numerous tournaments in India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, and Singapore and has won at least 15 international medals by November 2014. Initially competed under the S8 classification, Gawilan later competed under the S7 classification after a change in regulations by the International Paralympic Committee.{{when|date=October 2018}}
He trains under National Para Swimming Team Coaches Tony Ong and Ral Rosario.
=Asian Para Games=
File:Ernie Gawilan Asian Games 2018 medals.jpg
Ernie Gawilan has competed in the Asian Para Games. At the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea, he won three bronze medals, the most among the Philippine delegation. In the 2018 edition hosted Jakarta, Indonesia, Gawilan won the Philippines' first ever gold medal in the history of the games in the men's 200 meter individual medley SM7. He also won a silver in the 50 meter freestyle S7 event in the same edition.{{cite news |last1=Li |first1=Matthew |title=Ernie Gawilan wins historic gold for Team Pilipinas |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/ernie-gawilan-wins-historic-gold-team-pilipinas/130080 |accessdate=8 October 2018 |work=Tiebreaker Times |date=7 October 2018}}
=Summer Paralympics=
At the 2015 ASEAN Para Games in Singapore, Gawilan satisfied the Olympic qualifying time of 4:48.29 after he won a gold medal at the men's 400-meter freestyle S8 event with the time of 4:48.49. The feat qualified him for the 2016 Summer Paralympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro. The result was also an ASEAN Para Games recording beating the former record result of 5:03.09, as well as Gawilan's previous personal best of 4:53.67.{{cite news|last1=Bravo|first1=Neil|title=Davao para swimmer Ernie Gawilan wins Asean gold in record time, earns ticket to Rio|url=http://www.spin.ph/para-sports/news/dabawenyo-ernie-gawilan-breaks-asean-para-games-record-earns-trip-to-rio-de-janeiro|accessdate=27 August 2016|publisher=Sports Interactive Network Philippines|date=7 December 2015}} The performance was followed by another gold at the men's 200 individual medley event. Before winning a gold medal at the games, Gawilan clinched the silver medal at the men's 100m freestyle event.{{cite news|title=Gawilan strikes anew, wins 2nd gold|url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/sports/2015/12/09/gawilan-strikes-anew-wins-2nd-gold-446131|accessdate=27 August 2016|work=Sun Star Davao|date=9 December 2015}}
At the 2016 Summer Paralympics, Gawilan competed at the 400-meter freestyle, 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke events.
Gawilan is set to return at the 2020 Summer Paralympics after he attained the minimum qualifying time for the 400m freestyle S6 event.{{cite news|last=Villar|first=Joey|title=Gawilan cinch to make Tokyo Games|url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2020/02/21/1994954/gawilan-cinch-make-tokyo-games|accessdate=22 February 2020|work=The Philippine Star|date=21 February 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Giongco |first1=Nick |last2=Satumbaga |first2=Kristel |title=Judoka on course for Olympic berth |url=http://tempo.com.ph/2020/02/20/judoka-on-course-for-olympic-berth/ |accessdate=21 February 2020 |date=20 February 2020}} Gawilan formalized his qualification to the Olympics when he took part in a review classification race in the 2021 World Para Swimming World Series in Berlin which was held on June 18, 2021.{{cite news |title=Ernie Gawilan formalizes Tokyo Paralympics stint after hurdling review classification race |url=https://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2021/6/18/Ernie-Gawilan-formalizes-Tokyo-Paralympics-stint.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203058/https://cnnphilippines.com/sports/2021/6/18/Ernie-Gawilan-formalizes-Tokyo-Paralympics-stint.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |access-date=20 June 2021 |work=CNN Philippines |date=18 June 2021 |language=en}}
On October 24, 2023, Gawilan earned the 1st RP gold in the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou in the men’s 400m freestyle-S7 event ahead of Toh Wei Soong.{{cite news |last1=Isaga |first1=Jr |title=Paralympian swimmer Ernie Gawilan nails 1st PH gold in 4th Asian Para Games|url= https://www.rappler.com/sports/results-ernie-gawilan-jerrold-mangliwan-asian-para-games-october-24-2023/|accessdate=March 20, 2024 |publisher=Rappler |date=October 24, 2023}} On February 21, 2024, Gawilan and Angel Atom "secured slots for the 2024 Summer Paralympics, through the Minimum Qualifying Standard" said the Philippine Sports Commission.{{cite news |last1= |first1= |title=Para swimmers Ernie Gawilan, Angel Otom secure slots for Paris Paralympics|url= https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/sports/othersports/897944/para-swimmers-ernie-gawilan-angel-otom-secure-slots-for-paris-paralympics/story/|accessdate=March 20, 2024 |publisher=GMA Integrated News |date=February 21, 2024}}
References
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Category:Filipino male swimmers
Category:Sportspeople from Davao City
Category:Swimmers at the 2016 Summer Paralympics
Category:Paralympic swimmers for the Philippines
Category:ASEAN ParaGames competitors
Category:Swimmers at the 2020 Summer Paralympics
Category:S7-classified para swimmers
Category:S8-classified para swimmers
Category:Medalists at the 2014 Asian Para Games
Category:Medalists at the 2018 Asian Para Games
Category:Medalists at the 2022 Asian Para Games