Records tumbled despite torrential rainfall at the Paralympic athletics test event in Rio de Janeiro that ended on Saturday (21 May), confirming that the new track at the renovated Olympic Stadium is both fast and safe for Paralympians.

During four days of competition in Rio, a total of two world, 15 Americas, one European, one African and one Asian record were set.

Brazilian athletes looked to be in good shape with less than four months to go until the Paralympic Games. Daniel Tavares Martins took nearly half a second off his own men’s 400m world record in the T20 class (intellectual impairments) and came home almost one second ahead of his nearest rival. "I think during the Games I can improve on this time," a confident Martins said.

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The records came despite some challenging weather. The heavens opened on Wednesday evening, just as the IPC Athletics Grand Prix were getting underway. "I was a little bit worried because I have fallen before on a wet track, but I felt fine. It's a very fast track," said Brazilian sprinter Alan Fonteles Oliveira, who won the 200m in the T44 class (for people with lower limb impairments).

Cuban star Omara Durand, the world's fastest ever Paralympic woman, was also satisfied with how the venue performed in the wet. "The track was very good and the rain did not interfere," she said after winning both the 100m and 200m with ease in the T12 class for the visually impaired.

The rain did not stop Oliveira from winning his 200m event  (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

Wheelchair athlete Marcel Hug, who won the 400m event in dry conditions on Saturday morning, said: "It was nice to compete in the stadium today. It was good for me because it’s very important to see everything as I’ve never been to Rio or South America before. I like the stadium, especially the blue track. I like the city, and especially the people here are so nice."

There was a scare for Brazilian visually impaired sprinter Terezinha Guilhermina, who won two golds at London 2012 but has been struggling for form in the last year.  She had to pull out of the 200m, clutching her right thigh. Ciro Wrinckler of the Brazilian Paralympic Committee said the problem will not stop the sprinter from participating in the Paralympic Games in her home country in September.

Daniel Tavares Martins smashed his own world record and thinks he can go better at Rio 2016 (Photo: MPIX/CPB/Fernando Maia)

On Friday, local sprint star Felipe Gomes continued his impressive form at this meeting rounding off a hat-trick of sprint wins in the T11 class (visually impaired). The 30-year-old beat world champion Daniel Silva in the 400m to add to his wins over 100m and 200m earlier in the week.

“That’s my first run over 400m with my new guide so it was pretty good,” said Gomes who now has Silva’s world record in his sights. “I really need to work on this race, but I am glad where I am right now. I know I can certainly get close to the world record this year."

In total, Brazil won 124 medals at the Grand Prix, including 49 gold. 

It wasn't only the hosts who enjoyed their first experience of the new-look Olympic Stadium. The USA’s world champion Michael Brannigan looked in great form as he won the men’s 1500m in a new Americas record in the T20 class, lowering his previous best set seven months ago by 0.16 seconds. 

Denmark’s Daniel Jorgensen smashed the long jump T42 (lower limb impairments) world record with a stunning leap of 6.67m. The 22-year-old added 14cm to his previous best set last June in Grosseto, Italy.

Cuba's Omara Durand won yet another sprint double at the Rio test event (Photo: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)

The USA’s world champion and world record holder, Lex Gillette won the men’s long jump in the T11 class with an opening round leap of 6.41m. “It’s been great to come into the environment and see how it feels and sounds so that when I step back on the track here in September I feel that much more comfortable,” said the 31-year-old who won silver at London 2012.  “When I come back winning gold is top of the list and having some great marks.”

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) called the test event a success and said only small adjustments to the Olympic Stadium would be needed before the Paralympic Games.