Brazil secures gold with Jacques, Santos at Paralympic Championships
As the second-leading nation in the medal tally at the Paralympic Athletics World Championships, Brazil added four more podium finishes, including two gold medals, on Thursday (Jul. 13) in Paris (France).
The first standout performance came from 31-year-old Yeltsin Jacques, who triumphed in the 1,500-meter race in the T11 class (for visually impaired athletes) with a time of 4:03.83. This victory mirrored his achievement at the Tokyo Games, where he also claimed the championship title. Competing alongside guide Edelson Ávila, the Brazilian middle-distance runner left behind Japan's Kenia Karasawa (4min08s26), who secured the silver medal, and Poland's Aleksander Kossakowski (4min08s34), who clinched the bronze. This marked Jacques’ second medal in this edition of the World Championships, having previously won bronze in the 5,000 meters.
"The competition with the Japanese athlete [Kenya Karasawa] is great on the track because we are friends off it. I was leading the whole time, but I knew he would push towards the end. However, my body type and genetics greatly help me, allowing me to sprint fast at the finish. I knew that if I entered the last 500 meters in the lead, it would be difficult for me to lose," Jacques said.
The day also witnessed a golden moment for Jerusa Geber dos Santos in one of the most highly anticipated events of the World Championships: the 100m T11 (for blind athletes). The 41-year-old sprinter, a two-time champion, dominated the race from start to finish, crossing the line in 11s86. Santos had previously secured her first gold in the 100m at the Dubai edition in 2019. In the same event, China's Cuiqing Liu (12s30) claimed the silver medal, while Brazil's Thalita Simplício (12s37) earned the bronze.
"We are here because we do what we love. This is my second world championship in this event, and I am simply grateful. The 100m is highly technical, leaving no room for mistakes. We need to be attentive because even the slightest error can cost us thousandths of a second. But everything went well," expressed Santos, who ran alongside her guide Gabriel Garcia.
Also celebrating was Raissa Machado, who secured the silver medal in the javelin throw in the F56 class (for seated athletes). She achieved a distance of 23.05m, surpassed by Latvian athlete Diana Krumina (25.81m), who claimed the gold medal. The bronze medal went to Iranian athlete Hashemiyeh Motaghian (22.95m).
The Brazilian delegation at the World Championships in Paris comprises 54 athletes and 11 guides. This competition, marking the first major event in the sport following the Tokyo Paralympics, concludes next Monday (17).
