Asia’s fastest legless swimmer Ernie Gawilan entered his first ever Paralympic finals after failing thrice in 2016 but the Davao native was a long shot away from a medal, finishing at sixth place in the 400 meter freestyle – SM7 final Sunday at the Tokyo Aquatics Center.

Gawilan clocked in four minutes, 56.24 seconds and still finished as the best Asian among eight finalists.

He was eighteen seconds shy of bronze medalist Evan Austin of the United States, who clocked in four minutes and 38.95 seconds.

Heavy favorite and world record holder Mark Malyar of Israel (a nation affiliated with the European Olympic Committee) won the gold medal in riveting fashion, setting a new world record of four minutes and 31.06 seconds.

Andrii Trusov of Ukraine was a far second for the silver medal with a time of four minutes and 35.56 seconds.

Iñaki Basiloff of Argentina was in a photo finish chase with Austin but was just a finger–0.04 seconds—from the bronze.

The other Asian finalists—Toh Wei Soong of Singapore and Chen Liang-Da of Taiwan—trailed the race at seventh and last place, respectively.

Earlier this morning, Gawilan finished at sixth place overall in the heats with a time of four minutes and 58.58 seconds.

Gawilan’s final race will on Monday morning in the 100 meter backstroke.

Later tonight, Kalinga-native Jerrold Mangliwan will have a second shot for a medal in the final of the 1,500 meter wheelchair race – T52.