Omara Durand, who has already secured four records in this Paralympic Games, will seek her second gold medal this Monday, September 12, the third for the Cuban delegation.
“I can only tell our people that I will run with all my might, to win, the time will be set on the track,” the athlete from Santiago de Cuba stated, having set a record time of 23.67 seconds in the 200 meters T12 (profound visual impairment) event held in the Joao Havelange Olympic stadium.
Her guide Yuniol Kindelán noted the sprinter’s excellent condition and reaffirmed that we can expect the most from her.
Meanwhile, five-time Paralympic champion, Yunidis Castillo, was injured in the 100m T47 (upper limb impairment) final this Sunday, September 11. Having taken the lead in the first 15-20 meters, pain caused her to slow the pace and prevented her from repeating her gold medal of London 2012. A diagnosis is pending following her transfer to the hospital.
Among the action this Sunday, the bronze medal for Noralvis de las Heras in the discus throw F44 (lower limb impairment) stood out, with a throw of 32.47 meters to set a continental record on her return to the competition. The Cuban previously won bronze in the shot put F42-44 in Athens 2004.
“The shot put will be included in Tokyo, I’m going to improve my technique in the discus throw and train hard for the shot put,” the athlete from Guantánamo stated, who will turn 42 this September 19.
On Saturday, Cuba celebrated four bronze medal wins, the first for discus thrower Leonardo Díaz (43.50 meters, F54-56 category), who was prevented from securing his third Paralympic gold due to injury.
Meanwhile, judokas Yordani Fernández (100kg) and Yangaliny Jiménez (100kg +) also secured third places in the Carioca 3 Arena, which played host to the surprise victory of Uzbekistan as the top-ranking country in this sport (3 gold, 1 bronze, 6 silver).
The other bronze medal was won by María Luz Pérez in the long jump F42, with a record of 3.93 meters in the debut of Cuban athletes with prosthetic legs, known as blade runners.
Meanwhile, swimmer Lorenzo Pérez finished fourth in the 50m freestyle S6, and judokas Gerardo Rodríguez (73kg) and Jorge Hierrezuelo (90kg) both finished in fifth place.
(Granma)