Parapan American Games: Don't Worry, Omara, Cuba Won't Let Go of Your Hand

The disqualification of the phenomenal Cuban sprinter Omara Durand in her last race at the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago de Chile was very unfortunate.

Shortly before crossing the finish line widely in first place, as we are accustomed to, the string holding her to her guide got loose, Yunior Kindelán, and that’s why she missed the possibility of adding another title to her abundant record, which includes medals at all levels.

Visibly saddened, the girl showed once again her worth and she regretted not having been able to say farewell in the Chilean multi-sport event with a medal, probably her last competition at this level.

Before starting this event we emphasized its particularity, because apart from the great feats of muscle, they are accompanied by life stories of all sorts.

Omara, in particular, has nothing to prove in the competitive field because she has won everything, and with several world records included, with times that many people without any physical disability could achieve, including men.

Without her maximum potential in her vision, the woman from Santiago de Cuba runs the tracks as if she knew them by heart and leaves us with incomparable joy in each race. This time she could not officially win, but no one can take the medal off her chest.

Don't worry, Omara, you are one of those who don’t disappoint, no matter what happens, in any sports venue.

Due to the paradoxes of life, Chile could not be completely perfect as Santiago de Cuba surely is in your heart, but that in no way clouds your effort and your worth, demonstrated with great mastery for more than a decade in all scenarios.

Even if you hadn’t won all those medals in the past, and put Cuba's name so high in the international arena, no one would dare to blame you for anything either.

I know you worry a lot more about improving yourself now because you want your girl to be proud of you, but that's for sure. She and the millions who follow you, in this country and abroad, because you are admired not just by Cubans, we would be incapable of criticizing you for what happened in that Chilean stadium.

You can sleep peacefully, in this most important race called life the people of Cuba will never let go of your hand.

Translated by Amilkal Labañino / CubaSí Translation Staff