Darlenys de la Cruz Severino

Started: She took up the sport at age 15 in 2016 at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (Athlete, 23 Aug 2021, 28 Aug 2024; Richard Bazil YouTube channel, 12 Jul 2021) Reason: She was invited to compete by the Olga Estrella National Educational Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired in the Dominican Republic and enjoyed the experience. (Athlete, 23 Aug 2021) Ambition: To win a medal at the Paralympic Games. (Richard Bazil YouTube channel, 11 Aug 2021) Milestones: She became the first athlete representing the Dominican Republic to win a gold medal in Para athletics at the world championships when she claimed gold in the T12 100m at the 2024 edition of the tournament in Kobe, Japan. (paralympic.org, 23 May 2024; SportsDeskOnline, 18 Jun 2024) Awards: She and powerlifter Jesus Manuel Rodriguez Vallejo were flag bearers for the Dominican Republic at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024) Additional Info: <B>Guide</B> Fary Mejia (Richard Bazil YouTube channel, 04 Jun 2024)