Friday, November 24th, 2023.- The American Joel Gomez secured victory in the T13 1,500 meters (visual impairment) at the Santiago 2023 Parapan American Games, a triumph that also allowed him to claim the Parapan American record.

The 20-year-old clocked 3'56''24, a time that enabled him to avenge the victory that slipped through his fingers by centesimals at Lima 2019, where he had to settle for the silver.

"I am very happy, it was a great effort. The training paid off. I didn't know what the record was before the race, so it's amazing. The goal was to run my own race and execute the plan. Gold was certainly on my mind," Gomez acknowledged.

Ecuadorian Sixto Moreta finished second with 4'02''95, securing his second medal in this competition after the gold in the 5,000 meters. The third place went to Brazilian Silbado de Souza, the same position he occupied on Tuesday in the 5,000 meters.

In the female's T54 1,500 meters (wheelchair category), there was a thrilling finish, with American Hannah Dederick, in 3'45''12, narrowly beating Brazilian Aline dos Santos (3'45''29) by just 17 hundredths.

For the American, it was her third medal in Santiago 2023, as she also won the 400 meters and took silver in the 800 meters. The Brazilian achieved the same number of medals, finishing second in the 400 meters and winning gold in the 800 meters, confirming that this has been one of the great confrontations of this continental event.

Brazilian Vanessa de Souza, with 3'46''02, once again secured the bronze, just like in the 800 meters and 400 meters.

"This medal means a lot to me," Dederick said succinctly.

Written by Macarena Navias; translated by Rocio Rojas / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport
Photo by Marcelo Hernández / Santiago 2023 vía Photosport