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The Cuban paralympic legend Omara Durand is embarking on a new phase away from the tracks, but she remains connected to the sport that made her a symbol of perseverance for millions of Cubans. The multi-champion was elected this Saturday as the new president of the Cuban Paralympic Committee (CPC) during a General Assembly held in Havana, with delegates from across the country participating via videoconference.
The information was reported by the state-run newspaper Jit, which also confirmed the replacement of Alberto Juantorena at the head of the institution after a decade in the position.
Durand, regarded as the greatest Paralympic sprinter in history in the T12 category, takes on the responsibility just months after officially retiring from competitive sports following a historic career.
The Santiago athlete won 11 Paralympic titles in four consecutive Games: London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024, where she concluded her career with another golden triple in the 100, 200, and 400 meters.
At 32 years old, the athlete is also going through a very personal moment: in July 2025, she gave birth to her second daughter, beginning a new life outside of high-level competition.
After being elected, she acknowledged the magnitude of the challenge she faces leading the Cuban Paralympic movement.
"It is a tremendous and innovative challenge that we will face with the support of INDER and all those committed to the goal of strengthening this endeavor," he expressed.
The appointment of Durand also comes amid the delicate health condition of Alberto Juantorena, one of the most prominent figures in Cuban athletics and president of the CPC since 2015.
The double Olympic champion from Montreal 1976 was honored during the assembly as Lifetime Honorary President of the organization.
Juantorena has been facing a neurodegenerative disease since the end of 2023 that has severely deteriorated his health. The former athlete is confined to a wheelchair and has difficulty speaking. Last March, his condition was reported as critical.
The president of INDER, Osvaldo Vento Montiller, praised Durand and stated that he represents "the best example of the values of Cuban youth," while also highlighting his "simplicity and humility."
The president of the National Assembly, Esteban Lazo, also congratulated the former sprinter and wished her success in upholding the prestige of Cuban sports on an international level.
During the meeting, the management report for the 2021-2025 period was approved. The report acknowledged important sports results, including six titles at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, although it also admitted to issues regarding adherence to the national competitive schedule.
The new Executive Committee will also include Gerdan Fonseca Bernal as vice president, Jorge Reynaldo Palma Montalvo as secretary general, and Johama Jocelyn Salazar Montalvo as treasurer.
Among the priorities of the organization are strengthening sports classifications, promoting gender equity policies, and preparing for upcoming regional competitions, such as the Pan American Games for Deaf Youth in Guayaquil and the ParaCENTROAMERICAN Games in Puebla, scheduled for 2026.
The main goal of the new cycle will be, however, Los Ángeles 2028, where Cuba will seek to uphold the tradition of Paralympic successes built over the years by athletes such as Omara Durand herself.
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