RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Daniel Martins maintained his lead in the 400m T-20 (mental disability) and won the competition for the third time – he had already been champion in Doha-2015 and London-2017.
Thalita Simplício won the 400m T-11 (blind) for the first time, outperforming the current world record holder, Chinese Cuiqing Liu. The two secured spots at the Tokyo-2020 Games.
Daniel will attempt to become two-time champion as he won the competition in Rio-2016.
Daniel Martins broke the competition’s record with a time of 47.62 seconds, 76 hundredths off his world record (46.86). Ecuador’s Anderson Mina (48.18) took second place, and the bronze medal was awarded to Venezuelan Luis Felipe Bolivar (48.51), “Each year is like a little ladder. We climb and climb… And the highest step is Tokyo. Now we have to focus until then.”
Thalita made her best personal mark by crossing the finish line with a time of 56.85 seconds. Liu felt tired in the last few meters and finished the race in 58.19 – her record is 56 seconds flat. The bronze medal was won by Thai Suneeporn Tanomwong with 60.69 seconds. She beat Brazilian Jhulia Karol dos Santos, who finished fourth, only three hundredths of a second behind.
“She has been racing since 2015 and 2016 below 57 seconds. The world record is hers. Now I was focused on winning and I made it,” Thalita said of her rivalry with the Chinese.
The two golds this Sunday were crucial for the country to maintain its second position on the medal board. China remains first, with 24 medals in total (nine gold, ten silver, and five bronze).
Brazil ranks second with ten wins (six gold, two silver, and two bronze).
Ukraine is right behind with 13 medals: five gold, four silver, and four bronze.
Source: Estadão Conteúdo
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