LONDON Paralympics hopefuls Ernie Gawilan and Ma. Josephine Bea Riza Roble continued their dominance in the swimming competition of the 1st PSC-Philspada National Games at the Marikina Sports Park in Marikina City.

Gawilan, who set records in the 100m backstroke, 200m individual medley, and 400m freestyle events in the ASEAN ParaGames in Indonesia last December, bagged his fourth gold medal by ruling the men's 100 freestyle with a clocking of one minute and 11 seconds yesterday.

The 20-year-old native of Davao City, born without two feet, earlier topped the men's 200m freestyle (2:39.05), 50m backstroke (40.08), and 50m butterfly (38.14).

Gawilan narrated that he used to have a fear swimming in the water.

“Natatakot ako noon baka kasi lumubog ako,” he said. “Pero nu’ng natuto akong lumangoy noong 2004, nagkaroon na ako ng self-confidence at ngayon pursigido akong makalaro sana sa Olympics.”

Gawilan vowed to train harder so he can meet the qualifying time by April or May. He said he is still 15 seconds over the 400m freestyle criteria, and just four seconds off the 100 backstroke qualifying time.

Roble has also won four golds in the ongoing games organized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled-National Paralympics Committee of the Philippines (Philspada-NPC Phils).

Roble, competing under the classification of dwarfism and orthopedically handicapped, won golds in the 100 freestyle (2:02.06), 200m freestyle (4:10.25), 50m butterfly (2:01.43), and 50m backstroke (1:26.32).

Unlike Gawilan, Roble owed her immersion in the sports for medical reasons.

“May osteoporosis kasi ako at na-operahan ako sa hips noong nine years old pa lang ako kaya advise sa akin ng doctor na mag-swimming ako as therapy,” she said.