Retired in Cuba, the javelinist Yulenmis Aguilar will compete for Spain in the Paris Olympics

The Cuban JavelinistYulenmis Aguilar confirmed that she is a Spanish citizen and hopes to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

"There have been 495 days dreaming about this news. Today part of the dream is fulfilled, the other part will be fulfilled on August 7. Officially I am Spanish," said Aguilar.

In his statement he thanked the people who helped him and among them he mentioned the president of his club Rafael Blanker; to the Delegate of the Government of Galicia, Pedro Blanco; and to the Spanish Athletics Federation and the Higher Sports Council.

"We have achieved it. We will continue working to be more prepared for when I put on the Spanish jersey," said Aguilar, who left a hug for all athletics lovers.

The 27-year-old young woman arrived in Spain at the end of December 2020. She resides in Oleiros, A Coruña province, where she has a work permit. He has not represented Cuba in an Athletics tournament since August 2018.

His coach is the veteranRaimundo Fernandez, who helps you perfect your technique and achieve optimal physical shape for what lies ahead.

In recent years this athlete has been working hard. In 2021 he competed in eight competitions, of which six were within Spain and two in Portugal. He was crowned medalist in seven events.

In 2022 he surpassed his marks from previous years and reached 64.17 meters in the Spanish Outdoor Championships in Nerja (Málaga).

In 2024, his only official competition is the Spanish Winter Long Throw Championship in Jaén, where he reached 63.90 meters with his javelin. These results could guarantee him being on the podium in Paris, but he cannot let his guard down for a moment because he will have tough rivals.

The athlete will be able to compete once World Athletics recognizes her new nationality, a procedure that has yet to be made official, at the request of theRoyal Spanish Athletics Federation.

Aguilar is awaiting approval to be able to appear at the European Championships in Rome from June 7 to 12.

Aguilar has several titles such asjavelinist in Cuba; silver at the U18 World Championships in Donetsk (2013), gold at the U20 Pan American Games in Edmonton (2015), and bronze at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla (Colombia) in 2018, the last event in which he competed for the island.

Another Cuban athlete who competes for Spain isOrlando Ortega, who was chosen as the best athlete in that country in 2020. The runner was naturalized as Spanish and has won important titles in world athletics.