Perfect 10

Cuba’s sprint queen Omara Durand has clinched an unprecedented 10th world title at the Dubai 2019 World Para Athletics Championship.

Durand won her 10th sprint world title in as many years as she stormed to the tape in the 100m T12 clocking 11.66 seconds.

“I’m really happy because this is my 10th gold medal in the World Championships and I’m enjoying it as always, but now I have to run again,” said an ecstatic Durand, who two hours later was back on the track to finish first in her women’s 200m T12 heats.

Durand has no hesitation in revealing the success mantra and vouches that she has kept it quite simple. “It has been ten years without losing and this is something amazing. The key is to train hard and give the best every day,” said Durand, whose last loss was at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
 
“This gold medal is for all the people that loves me, it’s for Cuba, for my coach, my daughter, my husband, for all my family. I want all the people who loves me to enjoy this medal,” added Durand, who was followed by Spain’s Adiaratou Iglesias in 11.99  and Brazil’s Viviane Ferreira in 12.00.

Germany’s Johannes Floors had already showed his credentials with a world record of 10.54s in his heats in the men’s 100m T64 on Sunday.

In the final, Floors was in a league of his own and completely dominated the final to clinch gold with a time of 10.60s. South Africa’s Mpumelelo Mhlongo and fellow German Felix Streng clocked identical 11.00s to take silver and bronze respectively following a photo finish.

“It is not the end (to show his best), but at the moment I’m really glad and happy. I don’t want to say that I will be running under 10.40 because that just comes with training,” said Floors.

“Sadly, there were a few athletes missing, but hopefully we will be all in Japan (for the Tokyo 2020 Games),” he added.

Adolphe Timothee gave France their first gold of the meet with a time of 50.91s in the men’s 400m T11 leaving Brazilian duo Daniel Mendes (50.96) and Felipe de Souza (51.54) with silver and bronze, respectively.

In a nail-biting women’s long jump T64, the Netherland’s Marlene van Gansewinkel led the event until the sixth with a 5.24m effort, only to see Japan’s Maya Nakanishi steal the gold with with her final attempt of 5.37m.

The effort from Nakanishi saw her leapfrog from third to the first place. Van Gansewinkel still had one attempt left and improved her mark to 5.28 but it was enough to take the gold.

It was the first world title of the 34-year-old Japanese athlete and understandably she was over the moon.

“It was a really hard competition for me. I had an injury last April, but my last jump was awesome. I trust on my coach, he is always there saying that I did it well. My average it’s 5.20 meters, but he is always saying that I can jump longer,

“Maybe when I come back home after this World Championships people will be excited for me. Tokyo 2020 it’s going to be a good time to talk about Para sports in Japan,” said a thrilled Nakanishi.

Uzbekistan’s Khusniddin Norbekov smashed the men’s shot put F35 record with a 17.32m tosss, much to the delight of his teammates who were rooting for him from the stands.

China’s Xinhan Fu took silver with a 16.53m effort  while Argentina’s Hernan Urra claimed bronze with a throw of 15.87m.

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