By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Western Visayas swimmer Zach Lucas Obsioma bucked the odds to capture three medals in the swimming competition of the 2024 Palarong Pambansa Para-Games held recently in Cebu City.

Obsioma, a legless swimmer after sustaining a rare disease of phocomelia, took home two gold medals in the 50-meter backstroke and 50-meter freestyle (amputee category), and a silver medal in the 50-meter breaststroke.

According to his coaches, Max Fermales and Lyn Rabuya, the 10-year-old Obsioma manifested interest in swimming just last year, when he started training at a beach resort in Negros Occidental’s Cadiz City.

Obsioma, a Grade 5 student at Special Education – Cadiz Center, then participated in the Provincial Meet, and then earned his qualification for the 2024 Palarong Pambansa, where he won three gold medals.

Earlier this year, Obsioma had another impressive performance in the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association swimming event, to earn his way back to Palarong Pambansa this year.

“For two years now, Zach never failed to give us honor despite his physical disability,” Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante, Jr. said in a press statement sent to Watchmen Daily Journal.

“Zach is truly an inspiration among Cadiznons and Negrosanons as well,” Escalante added./ASC, WDJ