Paris - Angola's José Sayovo retains the record set in the 400m of 50.03, twenty years after the feat at the Athens Paralympic Games in 2004.
In the current edition, which takes place in Paris2024 (France), the Venezuelan A. Santos won the gold medal on Sunday (1) in the same distance, with a time of 50.58, far from the performance of the current vice-president of the Angolan Paralympic Committee (CPA).
From the athletics event for the visually impaired, class T11, which takes place at the Stade de France, on the outskirts of Saint-Denis, the Frenchman T. A Ophe, second with 50.75, and G.J Atangana, from the Paralympic Refugee team, third with 50.89, were in the next positions.
The maintenance of the position of the fastest athlete in the world in the specialty, 20 years later, when, obviously, the training technologies were not so evolved, demonstrates all the sporting capacity of the Angolan, currently 51 years old, born in the municipality of Catabola (Bié).
In fact, the sporting life of the officer of the Armed Forces, who was blinded during the explosion of a mine, in the fulfillment of the defense of the homeland, is totally full of achievements.
In the same event in Athens, he won gold and records in the 100m (11.37) and 200m (23.04).
After Athens in Beijing 2008, where he was the standard-bearer at the opening ceremony, he won three silver medals, in the 100, 200 and 400 meters.
At the London Games, at the age of 39, he won a bronze medal in the 200m and another gold in the 400m.
With his achievements, accumulating a total of 48 medals, 25 gold, 21 silver and two bronze, including in world championships, African and international meetings. Sayovo put Angola on the map of world Paralympic sport.
He inspires thousands of people in Angola and around the world, having as an example the Brazilian Lucas Prado, until before, the world reference in speed in T11.
Sayovo is a true ambassador for the cause in Angola and across the border. MC/DOJ
