Deaf tanker tries mettle in Asia-Pacific Games

MANILA, Philippines - A 27-year-old recipient of the 2011 Go Negosyo Award and the PLDT small-medium entrepreneurship next-generation Bosing Ako award finally fulfills his dream in swimming when he competes in the seventh Asia-Pacific Deaf Games slated May 27-June 2 in Korea.

But Lester Lagos will have to depend on his ability to “read” the starting gun because he is deaf.

To be able to coach Lagos, Philippine Swimming League president Susan Papa and Fil-American Sonya Baltazar, who trained Lago, had to attend the Congress meeting for the deaf with the help of PSL secretary-general Susan Benasa, who helped them interpret the rules for deaf games.

Since they cannot hear, Lagos and his fellow swimmers from 25 countries will have to depend on signals to take a dive without making a false start.

“God is really putting everything in place, Doc Benasa made it easier for me, she can understand the sign languages, since she has a sister that is in the same situation as Lester,” Papa said.

“We pray that Lester wins and I know he will deliver, he is very competitive,” Baltazar said.

Lagos is competing in the 50m and 100m freestyle and 50m and 100m butterfly.