Cuban wrestler Alexei Álvarez, willing to make up for time: "In Spain I have been received like a son"

One of the promises of Cuban wrestling in the small weights,Alexei Alvarez Blanco, decided to turn his life around and is currently in Spain with the hope of being able to represent the Iberian nation in Paris 2024, something difficult since he is still waiting for citizenship and would have to look for his ticket in a pre-Olympic.

Alexei, when did you make that important decision?

A pleasure to greet you Julita. Indeed, I decided to take another path after being part of the National Team for six years. I was national champion, medalist on all occasions in the Granma - Cerro Pelado International Tournaments and bronze medalist in the Pan American Sports Championship in Acapulco, Mexico 2022. However, I had no other option, believe me.

You decided to go to Spain when you were competing in the German Bundesliga, how did you get there?

Indeed, I competed in the German Bundesliga last season 2022-2023; In the 57 kilos I carried out six fights with a balance of three victories and three setbacks. I had attracted attention in previous competitions on the Old Continent and the organizers of the German league had been interested in me.

In order to participate in the Bundesliga I asked to leave the National Team and made the independent contract because in Cuba they demanded requirements that the German side was not going to accept.

For example?

There are several: one was that a coach had to go with me, another that the money was not given to me directly, but was transferred to Cuba Deporte and once I arrived, they gave it to me in national currency... can you imagine? For those reasons I did not accept and carry out the independent contract.

What happened at the end of the Bundesliga?

Since I had asked to leave the National Team and my dream is to become a world and Olympic medalist, I decided to go to Spain where I have been welcomed like a son in the “Carmona Guadajoz” wrestling club, which is located in Carmona, a city in Seville.

Here little by little I am materializing my dreams. This club has given me everything and I am very grateful, especially to its boss and coach Santiago Moreno who has treated me like a son.

Here, in addition to training, I impart my knowledge to a group of 10 children who I see how they learn every day; I feel fulfilled and I will do what I can to support the Spanish struggle.

You are 29 years old, do you think you can still achieve your dreams?

My goals are clear from the beginning: European, world and Olympic medalist. It would be ideal to be able to compete in Paris 2024, but perhaps it will not be possible; but that does not stop my focus and my desire to succeed and shine at the top of this beautiful sport that I love so much. I only regret the time I wasted.

By the way, did you always prefer wrestling to any other discipline?

I am honest, like every Cuban, my favorite sport was baseball; In fact, it was the first thing I practiced, but due to my short height I did not continue. It was then that I attended the “Antonio Guiteras” semi-boarding school in San Juan y Martínez, where coach Reinaldo Montiller arrived one afternoon, asking who wanted to sign up for wrestling and I decided.

Always a bookish person?

I like freestyle because I can use all parts of my body, I can grab my legs, do hooks, throws with great amplitude; In short, it is more attractive.

What characterizes you as a fighter?

I have always been patient, I do not despair, I play on the counterattack, always looking for my moment to make the precise technical movement, with total cleanliness.

However, I have had to change because the day-to-day life of competitions has made me change; Now I'm more aggressive and I'm doing better.

You told me that Reinaldo Montiller, a well-known wrestling teacher, discovered you.

Yes, he was my first coach, I owe everything to him. My beginnings were in San Juan y Martínez, exactly in Community School #2. There was a sawdust mattress with a sackcloth.

Day after day I came home with a different burn on my body from friction. When I started I was only 9 years old; My mother didn't want me to be a wrestler because I was very good academically, but my desire to do this sport ended up convincing her completely.

At thirteen I arrived at the Pinar del Río EIDE “Ormani Arenado” where I had excellent coaches like José Antonio Vizcaíno, called crazy by many but in reality, an encyclopedia of wrestling, who led me to be a bronze medalist in my first School Games. in 2007.

From there I would continue my journey under the gaze of technicians Ramón Garrido and Gilberto Leal. With them I linked a series of good performances in national competitions, both youth and senior, including gold medals against athletes from the national team, but they did not put me on the national squad, always using the argument that I was too young.

Every time I earned the promotion and was denied, instead of breaking me, I felt stronger. I never gave up or gave up until, finally, in 2016 I came third in the National Championship and they decided to enroll me in the National Team... My first dream come true!

I'm sure you crossed several categories.

Well yes: 28 kgs, 30, 34, 42, 50, 55 and my final 57 kilograms.

Who trained you at Cerro Pelado and who does it now in Spain?

In Cuba, Rafael Martínez; here, Santiago Moreno currently does it.

For you, who is the best freestyle wrestler in the world?

Without a doubt, the Russian Zaurbek Sidakov of the 74 kilos. And before you ask me, Mijaín López, who is a Grecista, is a god; He has it all: strength, intelligence, speed, endurance. That BLACK! It's ZEUS.

You are on your way to making your dreams come true. At this point in your life, who do you thank?

Firstly, to my family, especially my mother who has always trusted me and when I say always it is always; When many didn't trust me, she was there giving me encouragement, advising me. I say this with tears in my eyes.

To my son too, because of him I get up every day to work harder, as well as to a group of people who have helped me become the man I am, Liván, Juan Carlos, Reinier, Fabián, to my base coaches and those of high performance. If I achieve my goals it is because of all of them. Grateful to them and to life, for allowing me to enjoy good health to continue doing what I love most: fighting.