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Those who know me are aware of my everlasting bond with the former runner Ana Fidelia Quirós, previously known as Quirot, which is how I remember her and hold her in my being.
Throughout my career, I became known for building friendships with Cuban athletes, but with Fidelia, there has always been something special. Born in a land of champions, Palma Soriano in Santiago de Cuba, she has been one of my most prolific interviewees, and today has been no exception.
What are you doing, Fide? Where are you?
You know I’m retired, but my family is still part of Cuban athletics. I contribute in any way I can to our Federation.
Personally, I am married to the father of my children, Ricardo Rolle, an entrepreneurial Italian with whom I have been in a relationship for 26 years.
Thank God I found a wonderful man with whom I have built a family: my first daughter Carla Fidelia, who was born on the day of the Virgin of Charity of Copper, the Patroness of Cuba. She studied classical ballet and was a dancer with the National Ballet of Cuba. Currently, she is in an acting school in Spain; she is 24 years old, studying and working.
The youngest, Alberto, is 23 years old. He studied intermediate technical accounting and is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration, although he has a passion for sports and has taken courses to become a physical trainer. He currently lives with his father in Italy, while I split my time between there and Cuba because my mother is now elderly. Although she is in good health, she has been around for many years.
Julita, my two children whom you saw being born in the Sagrado Corazón Hospital in Vedado, are my two Olympic gold medals. Do you want better medals?
I remember everything, my friend, even when you met Ricardo and you both fell madly in love, struck by Cupid.
Hahaha, what are you going to forget? I met my husband in 1997 at ExpoCuba during the International Trade Fair that takes place in November.
We, the Cuban athletes, were representing Adidas, and there we were at the booth promoting the brand. He came by, asked me for an autograph, invited me to have coffee and chat, and suggested I visit his stand where he was showcasing his products. That's how we started getting to know each other, and we ended up dating for quite a while; now we've been together for 26 years.
Let's revisit your life because we can never forget our beginnings.
My beginnings date back to October 1974 in my hometown of Palma Soriano; I started like all children do, with the four events: baseball throw, high jump, long jump, and the 60-meter dash.
I was there and had the pleasure of speaking with Juanchi, who told me that you were a very active and mischievous little girl.
Hahaha. Juan Heredia Salazar, yes, Juanchi. I had just finished with Julita, to be honest. I cherish beautiful memories from that time. From there, I gained a solid foundation that helped me not only in sports but in life as well.
How do you get it started?
In 1975, I had the opportunity to represent Cuba at an international event in Hungary, where I was the only Cuban to step onto the podium. This accomplishment allowed me to enroll in the EIDE (Cuban Sports School) in Santiago, Capitán Orestes Acosta, under the guidance of Eusiquio Sarior. Due to my results, I later progressed to the national ESPA (Sports School) in Havana.
Which coaches have had an impact on you before Blas and Leandro?
I went through many events and worked with numerous coaches, each of whom tried to tap into my potential and speed. One of them was Rodobaldo Díaz Lambarri, a former 400-meter runner; another was the great Irolán Echevarría, who also ran the 100 meters.
Of course, I was very slow off the starting line, and they decided to change my specialization until a man who became like a father to me, Maestro Blas Beato Borges, arrived. I spent nearly 15 years under his guidance. With him, I achieved my best results: 1:54.44 in the 800 meters and 49.61 in the 400 meters.
With him, I won the Grand Prix five times in a row in both the 400 and 800 meters, depending on the competitive year; the Grand Prix was akin to today's Diamond League. Can you imagine?
Her journey on the world's tracks between 1987 and 1991 places her at the pinnacle of athletics: 39 consecutive races without a loss led to her being named the world's best athlete by the IAAF in 1989.
And all of this is thanks to Blas. I owe him not only my development as an athlete but also as a person; he was like a father to me and cared about everything related to me, not just in sports but also about my presence, my manners, and my studies. I owe the person I am today to Blas Beato.
You were the favorite in Barcelona '92. What happened?
A month before the Olympics begin, I lose my guide, my dear Blas. He had been struggling with his illness all year, something that understandably affected me; in fact, I was injured, and the truth is I arrived in the City of Barcelona not at 100% of my abilities.
But above all, I was greatly affected by Blas's absence. Just imagine, I was with him from 1979 to 1992. He knew all my moves, understood what I was thinking, what I needed to do. His absence during my training in Europe was more impactful for me, even more than the injury I sustained during altitude training in Mexico.
I was affected in my speed, which was my strength. Back then, I was the fastest runner, as I competed in the 400 and 800 meters, while the others focused on the 800 and 1500 meters. I was the quickest; it was my advantage.
That’s why, although I was never truly happy, I felt good about myself for being able to reach third place on the podium with a respectable time of one minute, 56 seconds, and 80 hundredths.
When a 1993 season was unfolding before you, away from the tracks due to your first pregnancy, your terrible accident occurred.
Exactly. You, more than anyone, know what happened and how much suffering it brought to my family and me. Thirty-eight percent of my body was affected by second and third-degree burns; it seemed impossible to return to sports. In fact, my life was in danger.
Of course I remember. In fact, there were doubts and misunderstandings among outsiders who didn't believe, but you rose above it. Your sister and your mom were crucial in your recovery, along with your extraordinary willpower.
Yes, Julita, I never doubted; I had positive thoughts about my recovery. I drew on the discipline that Blas had instilled in me, and my faith, perseverance, and willpower worked wonders, if I can call it that. I returned to the tracks, and not only did I come back, but I also won.
You lean towards Leandro Civil, who always had a lot of trust in you.
Yes, I asked him, and he never hesitated. Do you remember those afternoons when Mercedes Álvarez and I would run after the sun set at the "Juan Abrantes" university stadium?
Aside from you and my family, few believed in me, in my ability to run again. For everyone, my sports career was over, and I wanted to prove that if I truly wanted it, I could. Of course, I didn't do it alone: the support from Fidel, the expertise of the doctors at the "Hermanos Ameijeiras" Hospital, the support from my family and friends; the insight of Leandro Civil, who devised a training program that aligned with my actual physical capabilities.
I must mention Mayito (Dr. Mario Granda, then director of the Sports Medicine Institute, who sadly passed away) whose unwavering support always motivated me; in every training session, in every consultation, in every regenerative treatment... we did it!
Without fully recovering the movement in her right arm, Ana Fidelia competed in the Central Caribbean Games in Ponce '93, where she finished second behind Suriname's Letitia Dresde. Dresde became the most overlooked champion in the history of global athletics, as the media attention was overwhelmingly focused on the Cuban athlete.
After a year of reconstructive skin surgery and when no one expected her to compete, Ana Fidelia and her coach insisted on going to Europe to compete. 1995 was a World Championship year, and the Caribbean Storm wanted to test herself at the highest level. Many tried to prevent her; as far as I was concerned, I launched a media campaign to support her decision.
Indeed, it was on July 25, 1995, that I ran at the Monte Carlo meet and was narrowly surpassed by María de Lourdes Mutola, the season’s favorite. My time, below 1:57.50, earned me a ticket to the World Championships.
I knew I could do it, and I delivered for myself and for those who had placed their trust in me. In Gothenburg, I achieved that unforgettable feat: my first title at the World Championships with a time of 1 minute, 56 seconds, and 11 hundredths. For me, that was my rebirth like a Phoenix.
In that World Championship, the Mozambican had been disqualified for running outside the lane, and those who always looked for a flaw in the light claimed that our athlete won due to Mutola's absence.
However, mouths would be silenced two years later in Athens when the Caribbean Storm triumphed once again, this time against the world’s best runners, including María de Lourdes Mutola.
Do you remember that, Julita? No journalist except for you would come near me. Everyone was focused on Mutola and the Russian Yelena Afanasyeva... That's why, when I won, I ignored them all. They picked up my statements through you. It was quite a World Cup.
Between one World Cup and the next, the Olympics would take place in Atlanta. As the reigning champion of the world, Ana Fidelia emerged as the favorite.
During my time at the Olympic Games, I missed out on my gold medal; you saw that I arrived in optimal shape in Atlanta, but tactically, things didn't go as Civil and I had planned.
These are things that happen in a race; you come up with a strategy, but the other runners impose a different one, and you have to adapt. In the effort to not fall behind, you find yourself going along with it.
Fifteen days before the Olympics, during a training session where María José Péret, the French winner of the 400 meters, was present, she was left speechless because I completed the 600 meters in 1 minute, 20 seconds, and 53 hundredths.
That was less time than what Masterkova achieved (the champion in Atlanta), but well... I was wrong! and I had to settle for silver. When I found myself in fifth position with just 120 meters to go, I had to move out almost to lane number 3 to reach the medal; you saw for yourself that I was boxed in.
Ana Fidelia Quirós has been the top winner of gold medals at the Central American and Caribbean Games. Was that the reason for attending Maracaibo 1998 despite not being in good physical condition?
I went to the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1998 in Maracaibo because I wanted to retire with another medal, but it didn't happen; I was sick and it didn't work out. That was when I said goodbye to high competition.
Ana Fidelia, the current situation of Alberto Juantorena, the president of the Cuban Athletics Federation, is very unfortunate.
The athletics community has responded very well, supporting our dear María Caridad Colón, who has taken charge due to Alberto's illness.
María Caridad, with her expertise, leads the Federation with great prestige. We all deeply regret the serious health condition of the two-time Olympic champion.
Recently, Alberto received the Gold Necklace awarded by the World Council in recognition of his many years of involvement in the governing body of athletics, in addition to his prestigious sports career. We all pray for his recovery.
Every time we talk, we think the conversation will be brief, but it never is. I’ll take my leave now, gathering your thoughts on the current state of athletics in Cuba.
What do I think about current athletics? I believe that talent is present; it’s no secret that in recent years, Cuban sports have faced challenging times due to various shortcomings. There are no sports equipment, no recovery resources for athletes, no training facilities, and no funding.
That cannot be hidden because it is the reality, and on many occasions, we have expressed this; it is well known among athletes and coaches. However, one thing that is quite different from these deficiencies is that I don't see athletes today exhibiting the same drive, the same discipline, or the same resilience that we had in my time. Despite our challenges, we rose to the occasion and persevered.
Those today prioritize other important matters, and I’m not saying that they shouldn’t, but you also have to understand that if you’ve been sacrificing for many years to achieve a result, you can’t just throw it all away.
I don't see a strong willingness to sacrifice or interest in achieving a result. I believe that athletes are not giving their all, despite any deficiencies or difficulties that may exist.
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