Omara Durand is the queen of the Paralympics in the last decade

September 7, 2020

Cuban athlete Omara Durand won the recent International Paralympic Committee (IPC) vote on Twitter to decide the best moment in the Paralympic Games of the last decade.

The Cuban, with her hat trick on the athletics track at Rio de Janeiro 2016, defeated British cyclist Sarah Storey in the final round 499-229 votes, according to a survey conducted on Paralympic Games @Paralympics.

"Another exciting and proud recognition, which is not only mine but that of the Cuban sports movement, our people and the Revolution," the stellar athlete told JIT in a telephone conversation just after the voting concluded today.

"I will always go out in every competition to give everything for my flag and my country, as Fidel, Raúl and our president (Miguel) Díaz-Canel have taught us," assured the athlete who holds five titles between London 2012 and the carioca city.

"I have already received many congratulations because the vote has had great following, so I am grateful to everyone for that constant concern for my career," said this Sunday the winner among 16 candidates.

Omara received calls from the president of Inder, Osvaldo Vento Montiller; from the first vice president of the organization, Raúl Fornés Valenciano; and from the head of the Cuban Olympic Committee, Roberto León Richards, among many others since the result was known.

Starting on August 25, IPC published a series of great performances at Paralympic events in the 2011-2020 decade and then the aforementioned vote emerged.

With her Durand's hat-trick summary, the Cuban had greater support from the round of 16 and won overwhelmingly against Iranian weightlifter Siamand Rahman, Italian fencer Beatrice Bebe Vio and advanced to the final by adding 94 votes in favor of the 125 cast, against Italian cyclist Alex Zanardi.

Her races at the Brazilian beach resort are memorable for the three gold medals and the two world records in 100 meters T12 (profound visual impairment) and 400m T12 with 11.40 and 51.71 seconds, respectively.

Durand holds the world record in the 200m T12 with 23.03 seconds. She has also won all medal competitions since 2011, including world championships and parapan american games.