Omara Durand chosen as standout athlete of the Lima Parapan American Games

September 12, 2019

Omara Durand has just received the news of being recognized as the most outstanding athlete at the recently concluded VI Lima Parapan American Games.

Durand, winner of titles in 100, 200 and 400 meters T12 (profound visual impairment), said that those results were part of her plans as a contribution to the Cuban delegation and to her people, always loyal to her career.

The Caribbean athlete, who also left her mark on the athletics stadium at La Videna just as Jamaican star Usain Bolt did before, was announced as number one among the 19 main stars at the Peruvian event.

A press release issued by the website described Durand as a para-athlete who made history by achieving a golden triple for the third time in these competitions (Rio de Janeiro 2007 and Toronto 2015), in addition to setting records in 200 and 400 m for those events.

In the select list appear Brazilians Petrucio Ferreira (para-athletics) and Daniel Dias (para-swimming) as Durand's runners-up. In the case of Dias, as a winner of six titles to reach 33 in an equal number of finals in four consecutive games.

Completing the list are Argentine Gustavo Fernández (wheelchair tennis), Mexican para-weightlifters José de Jesús Castillo and Amalia Pérez, as well as fellow Argentine Yanima Martínez (para-athletics) and Colombian para-swimmers Sara Vargas, Nelson Crispín and Carlos Serrano.

In the pool at the La Videna Aquatic Center also excelled Mexican Naomí Somellera, Brazilian Phelipe Melo, Chilean Alberto Alarza, and Canadian Nicholas Bennett.

Closing the list are distinguished competitors in track and field such as Trinidadian Wimana Stewart, and Brazilians Fabricio Barros and Thiago Paulino; while Chilean Matías Pino stood out in para-table tennis and American Clara Brown in para-cycling.

Lima 2019 awarded medals to more than 1,500 para-athletes over the 11 days of competition.