Champions of Cuba today, champions of the world tomorrow.

The Cuba team has achieved the worst result in the Olympics since Tokyo 1964. This setback is largely a result of the economic reforms initiated by Miguel Díaz-Canel in 2021, which have exacerbated the absolute crisis in which Cuba has been living since the so-called "special period," increasing the poverty and helplessness of Cubans.

The effect of this crisis on these results is twofold:

Economic crisis:

The lack of resources for training athletes, along with the destruction of stadiums, tracks, pools, and sports centers, makes it more difficult than ever to train. This also prevents them from competing in international events to reach the necessary level of experience for a competition like the Olympics.

Finally, the lack of adequate nutrition for high-performance athletes has closed the cycle that affected the prospects of Cuban athletes in the 2024 Olympics.

Emigration

In addition to this, the crisis that the island is plunged into drives young Cubans, including athletes, to emigrate. This is reflected in the eight medals won by Cubans for other countries, which, when added to those won by Cuba, could have placed the country in 22nd position in the medal table of Paris 2024.

But Cuba only obtained 9 medals, and the important question is:

Will these medalists stay on the island?

The situation in Cuba will not change as long as the Castro-Canel regime remains in power. This will lead medallists to consider emigrating in the coming years. Like any other Cuban, many other athletes from the island will do the same. It is a human right to emigrate in search of new and better opportunities.

Cheap patriotism will not be a brake for those who strive each day to be better.

They will decide to emigrate; sports careers are short, and in other countries, their talents will be valued infinitely more. The alternative is to sell their medals so they can eat when their careers are over and they fall into official oblivion.