With tears of emotion in her eyes, the iconic Cuban sprinter Omara Durand officially announced her retirement from competitive sports, marking the end of an extraordinary career in the Paralympic Games.
Considered the best disabled runner in history, Durand expressed her gratitude for the years of success, the support of the people of the island, and stated that she feels ready to face a different stage of her life.
"We are going to embark on other paths," said the 11-time monarch under the five rings while being accompanied by her coach and friend, Yunior Kindelán, after their last awards ceremony together.
In an interview with the official journalist Guillermo Rodríguez from the Radio Rebelde station, the sprinter, who won three gold medals in Paris 2024 (100, 200, and 400 meters flat in the T12 category), reiterated that it is the right time to close this chapter.
Yunior, for his part, confessed that he will miss the champion a lot. "We started as the best and ended as the best," he said, highlighting the indelible legacy left by the woman from Santiago.
According to journalist Leticia Martínez on the social network Facebook, Durand also shared some of his plans: he longs to have another child, wants to undergo eye surgery - he suffers from a congenital cataract that may have a solution - and wishes to study.
The ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel also honored the star sprinter through the social network X.
This is how a legend of the movement for disabled athletes bids farewell, the holder of world records in the mentioned distances and multi-champion in world and Pan American competitions.
Paris 2024 will remain in the memory of Cubans as the event that bid farewell to two of their greatest athletes ever: wrestler Mijaín López and para-athlete Omara Durand, icons of universal sports.
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