The leader of swimming in Cuba,Elisbet Gamez, announced that he will stay away from the pools for a while and will return to prepare for the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo 2026.
"It's not goodbye, it's see you soon," the 27-year-old wrote on Instagram.
In statements to the official sports portalJit, said that he will take a break, but "it does not mean that it is the end of me, I hope to return stronger and with great desire to fight for the Santo Domingo 2026 Games."
She explained that her decision is based on her recent failures, including being disqualified from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games; and because she has been overwhelmed with "feelings of sadness, anguish and hopelessness, and lack of confidence in the process."
"I lost my special connection with swimming, the one that led me to seek my goals even in the worst moments. Unfortunately I did not find in France the respect and confidence to guide me to the hope of being able to improve my results. I made the effort to achieve it, I sacrificed myself, but the result did not come," he lamented.
Regarding his results, he stated that "the changes to the World Aquatics rules to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games directly affected me, since they require me to do thebrand A. It is not the same as when I attended the two previous Olympic events because I was the first swimmer from Cuba by score in the international federation ranking. (...) However, I had the opportunity to attend another scholarship, this time in France, totry the required time and I left with a good disposition", he pointed.
"I thought I would do well, but that did not happen at the XIX Pan American Games in Santiago 2023 or at the world championship in Doha, where I did not achieve the proposed goal despite the fact that in a few days I adjusted with the help of my coach and did better record than in Chile (2:00.83 in the 200 freestyle)", he explained.
He said that together with Fred Vernougx, his coach in France, he evaluated his abilities and tried again in the competitions six weeks later in Nice, "where he should have been around 1:59 or 1:58.8, and it didn't work."
"There my expectations were high and once again we didn't achieve it. I talked to Fred, but I wasn't convinced. I thought that, if I didn't have a good present, I wasn't going to get good competition in the future, in this case on the circuit mare nostrum next May and in the French national championship," argued Gámez, who plans to take advantage of this break to complete his degree thesis and graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Physical Culture.
She stated that these failures made her "feel very angry and totally overwhelmed. The conflicts would return," said the young woman, who claims that she spent difficult days alone and helpless, where she never achieved her well-being.
Gámez points out that he decided to return to Cuba, after verifying that the time he had left in France was enough to reach the mark of 1.57.2.
Several Cubans expressed their support after the swimmer's announcement on Instagram: "You are great Eli and you have achieved a lot, a time, a mark, a record or a medal does not define you, you are much bigger than that, you are a strong woman , capable and very brave, always remember that".
"Hey Sirena, brave decision. We support you, give yourself your time, finish the race, recover and enjoy life. If you decide to return here we will be with you," were some comments on the social network
What do you think?
COMMENTFiled in: