Driven by the sensational golden triple achieved by star sprinter Omara Durand, Cuba far exceeded its performance at the Tokyo 2020 Games in the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
The figures don’t lie: in the Japanese capital, the tally was four gold medals, one silver, and one bronze, while on European soil the delegation celebrated six crowns, three second places, and one third position, just hours before the closing and with none of its representatives left to compete.
Without a doubt, applause for Omara, one of the most prominent figures in para-athletics, capable of winning - together with her guide Yunior Kindelán - three crowns for the second consecutive edition in the 100, 200, and 400 meters flat in the T12 category.
Durand, 11-time champion of the event, showed exceptional dominance on the track, and the only bad news is that this Saturday she officially announced her retirement after winning the double hectometer with an impressive time of 23.62 seconds.
The other leaders from the largest of the Antilles were long jumper Robiel Yankiel Sol (T47), who reaffirmed his leadership; table tennis player Yunier Fernández (SM1), and javelin thrower Guillermo Varona (F46).
At this moment, the island is ranked 24th in the overall standings. It is worth remembering that in Tokyo it finished in 35th place.
Another detail… without the intention of making comparisons: the conventional delegation at Paris 2024 concluded with nine medals and in 32nd place in the medal table, thanks to two gold medals, one silver, and six bronze.
The story goes that it was the worst performance in the Olympic Games since Mexico 1968.
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