Amalia Ortuño Lizano, a talented athlete from Costa Rica, has made headlines by winning a silver medal and setting a new national record in the F56 shot put event during the 2026 Rabat Grand Prix of Para Athletics held in Morocco. Ortuño achieved an impressive throw of 6.74 meters, surpassing her previous personal best of 6.59 meters, which she had set at the 2026 Paranational Games in Limón. In this competitive event, she finished behind Mirolava Adamkova from the Czech Republic, who recorded a throw of 7.00 meters, while the bronze medal was claimed by Adina Samyikek from Kyrgyzstan with a throw of 5.41 meters.
Ortuño's exceptional performance comes on the heels of a challenging week during which she suffered a finger injury that cast doubt on her participation in this prestigious international event. She expressed her determination, stating, "I improved my personal best, set a new national record, and finished second in the competition, despite dislocating my finger last week and fearing I wouldn't be able to compete." This achievement marks a significant milestone in her journey as it signals the beginning of her training for the new Paralympic cycle.
Looking ahead, Ortuño emphasized that this accomplishment is just the starting point of her ambitious goals within the new Paralympic cycle. She is focused on future competitions, aiming to qualify for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, as well as participating in the upcoming Central American and Caribbean Games and striving for success at next year's World Championships. "We are working hard towards these goals, and we are very close to achieving them," she added enthusiastically.
The Rabat Grand Prix serves as a vital platform for elite para-athletes from around the globe, and it forms an integral part of Ortuño's international calendar as she seeks to improve her records. Following her success in the shot put, the Costa Rican athlete will continue her participation in the tournament with the javelin throw on April 24 and the discus throw on April 25, as she prepares for the Central American and Caribbean Games and aims for qualification for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
As reported by delfino.cr.
