The Cuban gymnastManrique Larduet Bicet denied a leader of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) about the reasons why he will not attend the Japan Olympics, despite being classified.
In a message shared on his Facebook wall, the stellar athlete stressed that thanks to his effort and dedication he has earned a place in the world elite and has the level for all types of competition.
"I resigned since February and to date they have not even asked me how I felt. I take responsibility for my resignation, but I do not assume the lack of respect. If I remained silent it is because I did not want to continue hurting myself emotionally, I felt very bad" , he claimed.
Manrique thus denied the words of José Antonio Miranda, director of high performance at INDER, who on Saturday declared to the specialized portalJit that the gymnast would not attend the Tokyo event because he was "lacking the physical and technical form necessary for an event of that level."
The young man considered the way in which he was talked about in the publication unfair, and indicated that he should clarify it.
"If you are going to take care of your image, take care of those sacrificed too. My greetings to my people and to all the gymnasts in the world who have been concerned about my participation in the games. For my people of Cuba and especially to my dear Santiago, who Always remember me as the great champion that I am," he concluded.
The gymnast's problems began when his coach, Carlos Rafael Gil Hernández, wasexpelled from INDER in 2019, in a process full of irregularities in which his fruitful career as a coach of the national team was unknown.
In October 2020,Manrique released a message addressed to Gil Hernández, in which he explained how difficult it was to train without him.
"It's true, I can train with any coach, because for me everyone deserves my respect; but the relationship, the friendship, the brotherhood, the blood ties, the union, what makes a perfect square binomial, that cannot be achieved. with anyone," he stressed.
In that post, thewinner of two gold and silver medals at the Central Americans from Barranquilla still had the dream of competing in the next Olympics and achieving a medal.
"We have to work together. We cannot lose these twelve years of my sacrifice, but also yours. Many people dream of seeing us shine again (...) You are my coach and you will always be. The one who was always there, at the beginning and at the end. I trust that the Olympic result will come, I feel ready to fight...", he added.
Just a month later, in November, Manrique denounced that things with his Olympic preparation were not going well at all, and pointed out that an injustice was being committed against him and his coach.
"It is difficult for my career to be at stake with people who have never seen me or train in my life. I consider that a lack of respect. People who do not know what it means to me to go to train every day, despite all the difficulties that exist (...) It hurts and shocks me to see how theyAthletes from around the world prepare calmly for the Olympic Games and I am still in the air"he questioned.
Finally, in January of this year, the athlete shared a post in which he hinted at the possibility of giving up the sport, a decision he made the following month.
"If one day I leave my sports career, I will leave happy with the legacy I leave behind. Knowing that I made an entire Cuba happy in each of my participations. Knowing that I am a source of pride for my people, my neighborhood, my family..." , he expressed.
Manrique then blamed those who he described as "frustrated who do not let us move forward, just out of pain when they see us shine."
"The path to my outlined dreams is becoming more and more difficult. No matter how much I want, I will not be able to achieve great things alone. (...) With this I say that it is impossible alone and much less so without support. I will be able to have the motivation at the same time. 3000%, but everything cannot be left to sacrifice," he stated.
For his part, Gil Hernández, Manrique's coach who had hired a lawyer to claim his sanction, announced in January that he was abandoning all hope of returning to his job at INDER.
"The worst and most damaging thing that exists for processes, especially sports, are those frustrated coaches and managers, those who wanted to achieve something but couldn't because they were incapable," he recalled, quoting a friend.
"I am closing a chapter of my life at this moment and saying goodbye to my greatest dreams. It was and always will be a pleasure to represent Cuba," he said.
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