A 10-year-old legless swimmer from Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, shone again in the recently-concluded Palarong Pambansa 2024 in Cebu City.
Zach Lucas Obsioma, who suffers from a rare congenital anomaly called the Phocomelia, won two golds and a silver in the swimming boys amputee category at the Palaro Para Games.
The Max Fermales and Lyn Rabuya-mentored tanker nabbed gold medals both in the 50-meter back stroke and 50-meter free style, and a silver medal in the 50-meter breast stroke, a press release from Cadiz City said.
A Barangay Zone 3 native, Obsioma, a Grade 5 student at the Special Education (SPED) – Cadiz Center, manifested interest in swimming just last year.
He then trained at Laura’s Beach Resort in Cadiz until he saw himself competing at the Provincial Meet at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod in March last year.
There, he won, until he reached the Palarong Pambansa 2023 held in Marikina City, where he also bagged three gold medals.
In May he became a swimming sensation at the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA) Meet in the swimming competition held at the St. John’s Institute – Ayala Campus in Talisay City.
With his feat at this year’s Palaro, Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. said Cadiz is again “beyond proud” of him.
“For two years now, Zach never failed to give us honor despite his physical disability,” the mayor said.
“Zach is truly an inspiration among Cadiznons and Negrosanons as well,” Escalante added.*