The Cuban delegation won three bronze medals. Omara Durand’s gold would have been added, but she was disqualified
Pedro Urgellés won Cuba’s first medal this Saturday in athletics at the VII Parapan American Games.
«Pedrito» took the bronze medal in the 100-meter dash category T12 with a time of 11.38 seconds, behind the Argentine Fernando Vázquez (11.18) and the Brazilian Marcos de Oliveira (11.38).
«I feel very happy, I have prepared very well to arrive here in good shape. They are my first Parapan American Games and it is very good to win a medal. I still have hopes of improving this result in other events,» he acknowledged.
Raciel González also climbed to the third step of the podium in the 100-meter dash category T47, with a time of 10.70 seconds. He followed Brazilians Petrucio Ferreira (10.34) and Washington Asis (10.63).
González was seven-tenths behind his rival for the bronze medal, but further away from Ferreira, the world record holder and who improved the Parapan American mark, also in his power, to win the gold medal.
Gerdan Fonseca also climbed to the podium and won a bronze medal in the javelin throw for the F57 category with a throw of 43.33.
Valdiran Lins, from Brazil, won the test with 49.87 meters and the Mexican Luis Gomeztable won the silver medal with a mark of 43.65.
«Very proud to be able to contribute to the medal table and win this award. “One always wants to improve, but I am very happy with this achievement,” he commented after his competition.
Omara Durand, after celebrating her third gold medal in this competition on her track, the 400 meters for the T12 category, was disqualified.
The officials noticed that Durán let go of the guide rope just before entering the finish line and decided to apply a penalty that invalidated her third title in the Games.
Jorge Reinaldo Palma, technical head of the Cuban delegation, explained that the pertinent claim was made, but it was unsuccessful.
«We were able to verify that he certainly released the guide rope moments before entering the finish line and for that reason, rule 7.9.5, concerning issues of assistance to athletes, is applied to him,» he clarified.
«We sympathize with her and we are also very sorry for what happened, we are sure that Omara will win many more titles until the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games,» he concluded.
