Daily Cooper and Rose Mary Almanza delivered their best performances of the season on Sunday, yet fell short of making the final in the women's 800 meters at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The young and charismatic Cooper achieved a personal best, completing the two laps in 1:58.39 minutes and finishing third in her semifinal heat, while the seasoned Almanza clocked 1:58.73 to place fifth.
Despite not advancing to the medal round, the results of the Cuban athletes should not be underestimated. They recorded their fastest times in the most crucial competition, a feat often missing in Cuban athletics.
In a statement to the press shared on Facebook, 22-year-old Cooper expressed her satisfaction with her Olympic debut: "I gave it my all on the track. I felt strong, but two athletes blocked my way, which slowed me down. I felt I had more to give."
A similar scenario unfolded for sprinter Reynaldo Espinosa, who, with a time of 10.21 seconds, failed to advance to the final of the men's 100 meters. The marquee event of athletics saw its fastest race in history on French soil, with seven runners finishing under 9.90 seconds. The race was won by American Noah Lyles (9.79 seconds), narrowly beating Jamaican Kishane Thompson (9.79 seconds) in a photo-finish.
Meanwhile, Alejandro Parada, the Central American and Caribbean champion, recorded a jump of 7.62 meters in his first attempt during the long jump qualification but did not advance to the final.
Performance of Cuban Athletes at Paris 2024 Olympics
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the performance of Cuban athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
How did Daily Cooper perform in the 800 meters?
Daily Cooper ran a personal best of 1:58.39 minutes, finishing third in her semifinal heat but did not qualify for the final.
Why didn't Rose Mary Almanza qualify for the final?
Rose Mary Almanza clocked in at 1:58.73 minutes and placed fifth in her semifinal heat, which was not enough to advance to the final.
What was Reynaldo Espinosa's result in the 100 meters?
Reynaldo Espinosa finished with a time of 10.21 seconds, missing out on the final of the men's 100 meters.
Who won the men's 100 meters at the Paris 2024 Olympics?
The men's 100 meters was won by American Noah Lyles with a time of 9.79 seconds, narrowly beating Jamaican Kishane Thompson in a photo-finish.