Cuban Durand awarded the Juan Antonio Samaranch Prize

HAVANA, Cuba, Apr 12 (acn) Cuban sprinter Omara Durand, three-time Paralympic champion in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, said she was very proud to receive the Juan Antonio Samaranch award from the International Olympic Committee.

I am very happy for this recognition that is so important in my sports career and a great personal encouragement, Durand told the press, accompanied by her coach Miriam Ferrer, relatives and friends.
Antonio Becali, president of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER), and Roberto León Richard, first vice-president of that organization, presented the award to the outstanding runner at the Havana Sports City Coliseum.
Very touched on such a special occasion, Durand acknowledged that she will always remember with fondness 2016 by the three gold medals she won at Rio Paralympic Games.
In that event, held last September, the sprinter - elected as Cuba's best handicapped athlete last year – won the gold medal in the T12 100, 200 and 400 meters events.
In the ceremony, René Jiménez, head of the Department of Attention to handicapped athletes, praised Durand not only by her excellent performances in athletics, but by being an exemplary woman, who in addition was nominated this year for the second time in a row to the Laureus Awards.