Angel Mae Otom during the day of her competition in the Women's 50m backstroke S5 event of the 17th Paralympic Games at the Paris La Defense Arena. Handout/Philippine Paralympic Committee

(UPDATED) Filipina para swimmer Angel Mae Otom finished in fifth place in the women's 50-meter butterfly S5 in the 2024 Paris Paralympics, Friday at the La Defense Arena in Paris.

Otom clocked 45.78-seconds in the final, 7.61-seconds behind gold medalist Lu Dong of China who set a new world record with a time of 38.17-seconds.

READ: Para swimmer Otom advances to final of 50m butterfly

Another Chinese swimmer in He Shenggao -- the former record-holder -- was relegated to silver with a time of 38.98-s, while Turkey's Sevilay Ozturk completed the podium after clocking 43.70-s.

Otom's time was faster than her 46.85-s clocking in the heats.

A first-time Paralympian, Otom had placed sixth in the women's 50m backstroke-S5 on Wednesday morning.

READ: Otom finishes 6th in 50m backstroke as China sweeps podium

"Angel did really good in her last event the 50-meter butterfly. This is her first Paralympics and both of her events are all in finals, kulang na lang ng podium," said national para swimming coach Tony Ong.

"I believe that next time, she will come prepared and hopefully dominate both events," he added.

Brian Ong,  the son of the head coach, who has been mentoring Otom since 2021, said they are happy with the swimmer's performance.

"Lumaban siya at binigay na niyang lahat. Hindi siya nag-backdown," said the national para swimming assistant coach.

Otom is a third-year irregular BS Sports Science student at UP Diliman, and the athlete said that going back to school was one of her priorities once she returns to Manila after taking a year’s sabbatical to prepare for the meet in Paris.  

"Sabi naman ni dean Kiko (UP-Diliman College of Human Kinetics dean Francis Diaz) that he would help ease me back to my studies once we return home while preparing for the next Paralympic Games," she said.

"Puwedeng-puwede pa. Gusto ko pong makamit ang mas mataas na karangalan," said Otom, who is already looking forward to competing in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.