MANILA, Philippines -- "An inspiration."

This is how Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) President Michael Barredo described table tennis player and Rio Paralympics bronze medalist Josephine Medina, who passed away back home last Thursday at the age of 51.

"Ate Jo, as Medina was called, exemplified hard work and dedication to her sport that our national para-athletes can follow and look up to as an inspiration," said Barredo from Tokyo, where he is with the country's delegation to the Paralympics.

"This is what made her an exceptional athlete and champion and enabled her to win a bronze medal for the country in Rio," he added.

• READ: Paralympics medalist Josephine Medina passes away at 51

Medina broke the country's 16-year drought in the Paralympics, when she won bronze in Rio de Janeiro. It was the Philippines' first medal in the Paralympics since Adeline Dumapong Ancheta garnered the first bronze in the Games in women's powerlifting during the 2000 edition held in Sydney, Australia.

"Talagang hard worker yang si Josephine and addicted to training, which is why she excelled in her sport," said para-athletics coach Joel Deriada, who witnessed Medina win her bronze medal at the Riocentro Pavilion 3 in the Brazilian city.

"Masipag talaga sa training si Ate Jo. Nagtatagal talaga kami sa pag-palo, lampas nang isa o dalawang oras sa four hours namin na regular practice," added coach Michael Dalumpines.

Even with her disability, Medina was good enough to be a member of the national women's team in 1989, according to Dalumpines, a former national standout himself.

A graduate of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Medina was dominant on the Southeast Asian level, bagging four gold medals in the 2008 ASEAN Para Games held in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

She also had a gold each in the 2014, 2015, and 2017 editions of the meet held in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, respectively.

Medina also brought home silvers in the 2010 Guangzhou and 2018 Jakarta Asian Para Games and a bronze medal in the 2014 Incheon edition.