Yunier Fernández wins another gold medal for Cuba

September 6, 2024

Yunier Fernández became this Friday the first champion in history in table tennis for Cuba in these Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, after defeating British Davies Robert in consecutive sets in the final.

Fernández conquered on Tuesday the first medal of the discipline for the largest of the Antilles in a Paralympiad with a victory against British Thomas Matthews, bronze in Tokyo 2020, by 3-1 and partial scores of 11-5, 10-12, 11-4 and 11-9.

He then advanced to compete for the crown with a success against Italian Federico Falco by 3-2 and scores of 15-13, 11-6, 4-11, 6-12 and 11-2.

At 41 years old, the Caribbean athlete has the distinction of being a medalist in all editions of the Parapan American Games since the Rio de Janeiro 2007 edition and two-time champion, Lima 2019 and Santiago de Chile 2023.

Today two other Cuban representatives will also have opportunities to reach the podium: long jumper Felipa Hechavarría, class T46, and paraswimmer Lorenzo Pérez, if he qualifies for the final of the 400 meters freestyle, category S6.

Pérez accumulates four Paralympic medals, one gold (100 in Rio 2016), one silver (50 in London 2012) and two bronze (100 in London 2012 and 400 in Rio 2016), all in the freestyle style class S6.

On Thursday's session, Cuba won a crown through the outstanding runner Omara Durand and a bronze with javelin thrower Ulicer Aguilera.

Durand triumphed in the 100 meters, category T12, her tenth gold in Paralympic competitions, and Aguilera made his debut in his record books in this major event with the bronze in class F13 and personal best and American record of 62.51 meters.

With those two medals, the largest of the Antilles rose to 24th place in the medal standings by countries while displaying four gold, two silver and one bronze.