Wednesday, November 22nd, 2023.- John Sebastián Obando from Colombia won the gold medal and set a new record in the T20 long jump (intellectual disability) with a distance of 7.22 meters.

The Caribbean Para-athlete had a close competition with his compatriot Roberto Carlos Chalá, who was the Parapan American champion and the record holder from Lima 2019, with a mark of 6.73 meters.

"I am very happy with this result. I overcame the discomfort and achieved a mark that I had never done before, beating Roberto Chala, who is the second-best in the world," commented Obando, who achieved his best jump on the second attempt.

Chalá, although surpassing his record set in Lima 2019 with a jump of 7.08 meters, only managed to secure the silver medal at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games.

The bronze medal went to Canadian Noah Vucsics, who jumped 6.96 meters on the field at the Centro Atlético Mario Recordón del Estadio Nacional.

Written by Marcelo López-Anaís Farías; translated by Paulette Bertín / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Javier Salvo / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport