Omara Durand dominated the 400 meters at the Paris 2023 World Para-Athletics Championship

July 14, 2023

Cuban Omara Durand extended her gold harvest today by dominating the 400-meter race (T12 category) at the Paris 2023 World Para-Athletics Championship.

Alongside her guide Yuniol Kindelán, Omara stopped the clock at 52.82 seconds, posted her best time of the year and relegated the remaining podium places to Venezuelan Alejandra Pérez (57.88) and Italian Valentina Petrillo (58.24).

With that result, the multiple champion maintains her reign from four years ago in Dubai 2019 and raised her titles in this type of competition to 12.

"We are very happy because it was also her best 400-meter race this year. Her time shows that she is in good form for the remaining events," coach Miriam Ferrer told JIT while her student completed the stretching and recovery exercises prescribed by the physiotherapist on the track.

"Everything is going well and she is in very good spirits," Ferrer confirmed, hopeful about the time that brings Omara closer to her best performances.

Omara holds the world record in the specialty: the 51.77 seconds set at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Paralympic Games. Since the London 2017 event, she also holds the record for world championships: 52.75 seconds.

The Santiago native, nine-time Paralympic champion, will seek to retain her leadership in the 100 and 200 meters in the City of Light. The qualifying heats for the 100 meters are scheduled for this Friday and the semifinals and final will be held the next day.

In addition to gold in the 400 meters, Omara secured the second qualification of a Cuban athlete for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

The first of those spots was captured by long jumper Robiel Yankiel Sol, crowned Thursday morning with a championship record of 7.63 meters in the T46 category.

Next Saturday there will also be performances for the Island of Cuba with Noraivis de las Heras in shot put, F64 category, and with javelin thrower Ulicer Aguilera (F13).