Cuban Paralympic sports shone brightly in Paris

Cuba's Paralympic sport shone brightly at the Paris 2024 Games, which close today, winning 10 medals, including six titles, to place 24th among countries.

The delegation from the largest of the Antilles with only 21 athletes, fulfilled its predictions of finishing among the first 25 nations, by winning a dozen medals and surpassing the four titles of the previous Tokyo 2020 event.

Once again, star sprinter Omara Durand confirmed her reign in an unchallengeable manner in 100, 200 and 400 meters of the T12 category, for the visually impaired, to lead the performance of the Caribbean island.

Durand, always accompanied by her guide Yuniol Kindelán, reached 11 crowns in the Paralympics, a streak that began with two golds in London 2012 and continued with three in Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

Also on the top step of the podium were long jumper Robiel Yankiel Sol, who revalidated the gold of the Japanese competition in the T47 class, javelin thrower Guillermo Varona (F46) and table tennis player Yunier Fernández (MS1).

The first subtitle was obtained by sprinter Yamel Luis Vives in the 100-meter flat T44, weightlifter Pablo Ramírez, in the 54-kilogram division, and judoka Sheyla Hernández, in the over 70 kilos.

The only bronze medal for the Cubans went to Ulicer Aguilera, who had to overcome an injury to his left leg in order to throw the javelin 62.51 meters, a Pan American record and personal best in the F13 class.

Other outstanding performances were by javelin thrower Ever René Castro, fifth in the F-41 class, sprinter Raciel González, sixth in the T47 100-meter final, gold and silver in the 100 and 200 meters in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro edition, and para-swimmer Lorenzo Pérez, eighth in the 400-meter freestyle in the S6 class.

In statements to Prensa Latina, the first vice president of the National Institute of Sports, Raúl Fornés, described the results obtained by Cuba as very relevant. The first goal was to at least match the performance in Tokyo and this was surpassed by winning more medals in total and in the number of golds achieved, he said.

He also praised the attitude of Cuban athletes, their dedication and courage, and their desire to excel in each of the events they participated in. This performance leaves us with a very positive result for the future because many of these athletes are young and have a long way to go, he said.

Fornés also highlighted the good health of Paralympic sport in Cuba, the interest it arouses every day among fans, the support and backing of all the people for disabled athletes and the admiration for each of their triumphs.