Those who know me are aware of my everlasting sisterhood with the former runner Ana Fidelia Quirós, previously known as Quirot, that's how I remember and hold her in my being.
I stood out in my career for building friendships with Cuban athletes, but there was and still is something special about Fidelia. Born in a land of champions, Palma Soriano in Santiago de Cuba, she has been one of my most prolific interviewees, and today was no exception.
What are you doing, Fide? Where are you?
You know I am retired but my family is still part of Cuban athletics. I collaborate in any way I can with our Federation.
Personally, I am married to the father of my children, Ricardo Rolle, an entrepreneurial Italian with whom I have had a relationship for 26 years.
Thanks to God, I found a magnificent man with whom I have built a family: my first daughter Carla Fidelia, who was born on the day of the Caridad del Cobre, the Patroness of Cuba, studied Classical Ballet, and was a dancer with the National Ballet of Cuba. Currently, she is attending an Acting School in Spain; she is 24 years old, studying and working.
The youngest one, Alberto, is 23 years old. He studied a middle-level technician in Accounting and is currently studying Business Administration even though he likes sports and has taken courses as a fitness coach. He currently lives with his father in Italy, and I am a bit here and a bit there in Cuba because my mother is already older, and even though she is in good health, she is getting up there in years.
Julita, my two children whom you saw being born at the Sagrado Corazón del Vedado hospital, are my two Olympic gold medals. Do you want better medals?
I remember everything, friend, even when you met Ricardo and fell madly in love, struck by Cupid.
Hahaha, what are you going to forget? I met my husband in 1997 at ExpoCuba where the International Trade Fair was taking place in November.
The Cuban athletes were representing Adidas and there we were at the booth advertising said brand. He walked by and asked me for an autograph, invited me for coffee and a chat, and to stop by his booth where he displayed his products. That's how we started getting to know each other and we were dating for a good while; that's how we've been together for 26 years.
We are going to retrace your life because we can never forget our beginnings.
My beginnings date back to October 1974 in my native Palma Soriano; I started like all children, in the quadrathlon: baseball throw, high jump, long jump, and the 60-meter dash.
I was there and had the pleasure of talking to Juanchi who told me that you were a super active, mischievous girl.
Hahaha. Juan Heredia Salazar, yes, Juanchi. I was dating Julita, to be honest. I treasure beautiful memories from that time. I came out of there with a very good foundation that served me in my life, not just in sports.
How do you get started?
In 1975, I have the opportunity to represent Cuba in an international event in Hungary, where I was the only Cuban to step onto the podium. This led me to enroll in the Santiaguera Capitán Orestes Acosta EIDE under the guidance of Eusiquio Sarior, and due to my results, I moved on to the national ESPA in Havana.
Coaches who have influenced you before Blas and Leandro?
I went through many events and many teachers, and each one tried to exploit my potential, speed. One of them was Rodobaldo Díaz Lambarri, a former 400-meter runner; another one was the great Irolán Echevarría because he also ran 100 meters.
Sure, I was very slow off the start, and they decided to change my specialty until a man arrived who was like a father to me, teacher Blas Beato Borges, and I was under his guidance for almost 15 years. 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 that was like today's Diamond League. Can you imagine?
Her journey through the tracks of the planet between 1987 and 1991 places her at the top of the universal track and field: 39 consecutive races without losing led her to be chosen as the best athlete in the world according to the IAFF in 1989.
And all this, thanks to Blas. I owe him not only my training as an athlete but as a person; he was like a father to me and cared about everything related to me, not only about sports but also about my appearance, good manners, and my studies. Blas Beato is the reason for the person I am today.
You were the favorite in Barcelona '92, what happened?
One month before the start of the Olympic Games, I lose the one who was my guide, my dear Blas. He had been battling his illness throughout the year, something that certainly affected me; in fact, I was injured as well, and the truth is that I arrived in the City of Barcelona without being at 100% of my abilities.
But above all, I was greatly affected by Blas' absence. Just imagine, I was with him from 1979 to 1992. He knew all my moves, knew what I was thinking, what I should do. Not having him in my preparation in Europe affected me, even more than the injury I sustained during training at high altitude in Mexico.
I was affected in my speed, which was my strength. Back then, I was the fastest runner because I ran 400 and 800 while the others did 800 and 1500. I was the fastest. It was my advantage.
That's why, even though I was never happy, I was satisfied with myself for being able to reach the third place on the podium with a good time of one minute, 56 seconds, and 80 hundredths.
When a 1993 was unfolding before you, away from the tracks due to your first pregnancy, your terrible accident occurred.
Exactly. You, better than anyone, know what happened and how much suffering that brought to my family, to me. 38% of my body was affected by second and third-degree burns; it seemed impossible to return to sports. Even my life was in danger.
Of course I remember. There were even doubts and misunderstandings among outsiders who did not trust, but you grew. Your sister, your mom were key to your recovery in addition to your extraordinary willpower.
Yes, Julita, I never doubted it, I had positive thoughts about my recovery; I relied on the discipline that Blas had instilled in me, my faith, perseverance, and will made the miracle happen, if I can call it that. I returned to the tracks and not only did I return, but I won.
You lean towards Leandro Civil, who always had a lot of confidence in you.
Yes, I asked him for it and he never hesitated. Do you remember those afternoons when Mercedes Álvarez and I used to run after the sun had set at the "Juan Abrantes" university stadium?
Except for you and my family, few believed in me, in my ability to run again. To everyone else, my sports career was over, and I wanted to prove that if I wanted to, I could. I did not do it alone, of course: the support of Fidel, the wisdom of the doctors at the "Hermanos Ameijeiras" Hospital, the support that my family and friends represented; the intelligence of Leandro Civil, who designed a training program according to my real physical abilities.
I cannot fail to mention Mayito (Dr. Mario Granda, then director of the Sports Medicine Institute, unfortunately deceased) whose perseverance always drove me; in every training session, in every consultation, in every regenerative treatment... and we did it!
Barely recovering the movement of her right arm, Ana Fidelia competed in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Ponce 93 where she finished second behind the Surinamese Letitia Dresde, who was the most neglected champion in the history of universal athletics as all media outlets focused on the Cuban.
After a year of reconstructive operations on her skin, when no one was counting on her, in sports terms, Ana Fidelia and her coach demanded to go to Europe and be able to compete. 1995 was a World Championship year and the Caribbean Storm wanted to prove herself at the highest level. Many tried to stop her; as for me, I launched a media campaign in support of her decision.
Indeed, it was on July 25, 1995, that I ran in the Montecarlo meet and was narrowly surpassed by Maria de Lourdes Mutola, the favorite of the season. My time then, below 1:57.50, earned me a ticket to the World Championships.
I knew I could do it, and I fulfilled my own expectations and those who had trusted in me, and in Gotemburg, I achieved that unforgettable feat: my first title in World Championships with 1 minute 56 seconds and 11 hundredths. That was, for me, my resurgence like a Phoenix.
In that World Cup, the Mozambican had been disqualified for running outside the lane, and those who always looked for the flaw in the sun claimed that ours won due to Mutola's absence.
However, mouths would be shut when two years later in Athens, the Caribbean Storm resurfaced triumphant once again against the best runners on the planet, including Maria de Lourdes Mutola.
Do you remember that, Julita? No journalist except you would come near me. They were all after Mutola, the Russian Yelena Afanasyeva... That's why when I won, I ignored them all. You caught my statements. What a beautiful World Championship that was.
Between one World Championship and another, the Olympic Games would take place in Atlanta. In her status as the world champion, 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 form to Atlanta but tactically things didn't go as planned, Civil and I.
These are things that happen in the race; you outline a strategy and the other runners impose a different one on you, so you have to change it and, in the eagerness of not being left behind, you let yourself be carried away.
Fifteen days before the Olympics, in a training session where María José Peré was present, the French winner of the 400 meters, she was left speechless when I completed the 600 meters in one minute, 20 seconds, and 53 hundredths.
That was less time than what Masterkova did (champion in Atlanta), but well... I made a mistake! and had to settle for the silver. When I saw myself in the last 120 meters in fifth position, I had to open up almost to lane number 3 in order to reach the medal; you saw for yourself that they had me closed off.
Ana Fidelia Quirós has been the top gold medal winner at the Central American and Caribbean Games. Was that the reason for attending Maracaibo 1998 despite not being physically well?
I went to the Central American and Caribbean Games of 1998 in Maracaibo because I wanted to retire with another title, but it couldn't be; I was sick and it didn't work out. There, I said goodbye to high-level competition.
Ana Fidelia, it is very regrettable the current situation of the president of the Cuban Athletics Federation, Alberto Juantorena.
The people from athletics have responded very well, supporting our dear María Caridad Colón who has taken charge due to Alberto's illness.
María Caridad, with her knowledge, is leading the Federation due to her prestige. We all deeply regret the poor health condition of the two-time Olympic champion.
In these days, Alberto was awarded the Gold Collar conferred by the World Council for his many years of presence within the organization that governs athletics worldwide, in addition to his prestigious sports career. We all pray for his recovery.
Every time we talk, we think the conversation is going to be brief but it never is. I bid farewell by collecting your opinion on the current state of Cuban athletics.
What do I think of current athletics?... I believe that the talent is there; it is no secret to anyone that in recent years Cuban sports have been going through difficult times due to various shortages - there are no sports equipment, no recovery resources for athletes, no training facilities, no funding.
That cannot be hidden because it is reality, and on many occasions we have expressed ourselves, and it is known by the athletes and coaches; but one thing that is far from these deficiencies is that I do not see athletes of these times with the same determination, the same discipline, or the same fortitude that we, the athletes of my time, had, who, despite our difficulties, grew stronger, and overcame them.
Today's generation prioritize other things that are important, I'm not saying they're not, but you also need to understand that if you are sacrificing yourself over many years to achieve a result, you can't just throw it all away.
I don't see a good willingness to sacrifice or interest in a result. I believe that the athletes are not giving their all, beyond any deficiencies and difficulties that may exist.
What do you think?
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