Cubans in Paris for other flags

I think no one doubts that when a Cuban athlete reaches the top of the podium, sees their flag rise, and hears the Bayamo anthem play; that moment is incomparable, exciting, and not only for those of us who love sports, but for anyone who feels Cuban.

Before, just a few years ago, that was the main and final purpose of a period of effort and dedication aimed at competing in a World Championship, in the Olympics, in a specific event.

Things have changed and while some engage in a reckless race of insults and offensive words such as "betrayal," "forgetting the precepts instilled for decades," others, fortunately the majority, welcome the triumphs that our people achieve wherever they are.

The times of the Figuerola and Juantorena, Pedro Chappé and Jabao Herrera, Pérez Vento and Diago, Teófilo and Horta are not the current ones.

And it's not a Cuba's problem; no, the issue is global. European soccer teams full of excellent African players; Latin blood injected into Spanish, Portuguese, Italian sports. Even the always powerful U.S. squad has admitted athletes from other nations in order to improve in disciplines where they are not strong.

Regarding the topic, many have asked me about how many Cuban athletes will travel to Paris under other flags, and here I mention some; I know not all, but at least a few of those we will be enjoying even if the Bayamo anthem cannot be heard, even if that Cuban champion is unable to sing the anthem he defended.

I start with the triple jumpers, in whose Olympic final up to seven exponents of the Cuban school of triple jump could participate: the titleholder from Tokyo, Pedro Pablo Pichardo for Portugal; Jordan Díaz, who has just won the European Championship for Spain with a mark of 18 meters 18 centimeters; Andy Díaz, winner of the last two editions of the Diamond League competing for Italy, and for Azerbaijan, the veteran Alexis Copello, who has not yet achieved the minimum mark for the Olympic Games, but as he confessed to me, he is eagerly awaiting the meeting on the next 23rd, when he may achieve the desired record that will propel him to Paris.

Cuba will be represented by Lazaro Martinez and Christian Atanay Napoles and Andy Hechevarria could still do it, who is fighting for qualification in terms of ranking. Although Copello has a very tough challenge... Impossible is not impossible!

Sprinter Arialis Gandulla, now Portuguese, finished fifth in the 2023 European Indoor Championships in Istanbul. Javelin thrower Yulenmis Aguilar for Spain and experienced Yasmani Copello, third in the 400m hurdles in Rio 2016 while representing Turkey, are among others who could spice up the track and field events in Paris.

According to Copello's words to this reporter, after achieving the Olympic mark at the last World Championship in Budapest, his and his coach's strategy is to compete sparingly; one race only, in the European Championship with a time of 50 seconds and 57 hundredths: "I ran with a lot of burden, I look forward to Paris and having another phenomenal year," said the experienced hurdler... who they didn't want in Cuba!

In boxing, while Cuba does not field a complete team as five boxers have secured Olympic spots out of a possible seven, with no women in its delegation, five other Cuban athletes will compete wearing different colors, and it would not be surprising to see a clash between Cubans in some divisions.

The Habanero Enmanuel Reyes, a real spectacle in the ring, will represent Spain while the Matancero Javier Ibáñez will do so for Bulgaria, both with recent and triumphant performances in Madrid.

Reyes Pla defeated Uzbek Abdullaev Shohjahon by unanimous decision in the 91-kilogram category in a rematch, while in the 57-kilogram category, Spanish Jose Quiles won by split decision against now Bulgarian Ibañez, securing the IBA European Championship Belt.

Reyes is known for his dispute with Julio César La Cruz at the past Tokyo 2020 Games; Ibáñez, 26 years old, emigrated with a youth world crown in 2014, precisely in Bulgaria, the country he currently represents, and another gold medal in the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.

Another one who will not be with the Cuban team is Loremberto Alfonso from Pinar del Río, while there are around 26 trainers (maybe some might slip away) who, whether through their own efforts or through Cubadeportes (the minority), will attend Paris directing the corners of foreign boxers.

Some of them are: Ernesto Aroche and Esteban Cuéllar who will lead their Spanish disciples; Mariano González and Humberto Orta for France; Joel Soler for Bulgaria. Professor Pedro Roque for Azerbaijan; Pedro Granados and José Luis Frómeta for Serbia.

In China there are three: professors Raúl Fernández and Julián Ricardo Cedeño, as well as Olympic monarch Maikro Romero. Moroccan boxers are trained by Juan Carlos Maestre. In our continent, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Colombia have Cuban coaches in the sport of boxing. Athletes and teachers have left in pursuit of a well-being they cannot achieve in their country, and the truth is that the number keeps increasing, a phenomenon supported by family and friends.

In Uzbekistan, two trainers hired by Cubadeportes, Enrique Steyners and Julio Lee, are training.

And if we talk about technicians, track and field has quite a few: the high jumper Iván Pedroso and Alexander Navas, who reside in Spain; Yansen Pérez, Dominican Republic, and several who are in India.

In terms of fighting, Cuban gladiators will also be present, fighting under other flags. Such is the case of Néstor Almanza at 67 kilograms and Yasmani Acosta at 130 kilograms in the classic modality, both representing Chile.

And if we're not only talking about Cubans in other delegations but about possible champions and medalists, let's refer to volleyball where Wilfredo "the King" León leads the best team at the moment, Poland; Yoandy Leal does the same for Brazil, Melissa Vargas, the best player on the planet in 2023, represents Turkey; and in weightlifting, Oscar Reyes, one of the favorites in the 81 kilograms, representing Italy as well as in other sports like athletics, boxing, and canoeing.

The Cuban presence from the island was reduced in Tokyo: 69 athletes were joined by 22 who competed for other teams, and many who did so for the United States with Cuban roots.

Finally, canoeist Fernando Dayán and weightlifter Ramiro Mora are part of the refugee Olympic team that will participate in the Summer Games.

Dayán Jorge, along with Serguey Torres, is an Olympic champion in the C2 1000 meters event in Tokyo, a continental champion in Lima 2019, and a multi-medalist at the world level. The weightlifter returned to training in England after several years away from the weights and having dabbled in the circus.

Several have questioned the presence of both in a team called to be the only possibility for athletes who are not welcomed by their home countries; but the concept of refugees is much broader.

A refugee is a person who is outside their country or place of origin due to well-founded fears of persecution based on ethnicity, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinions; or due to extraordinary circumstances such as catastrophes, wars, or natural disasters, and who is unable or unwilling to seek the protection of their country in order to return.

I think it couldn't be clearer. It is very simple to realize that in order to be part of a CUBA team in any discipline, you must adhere to the prevailing ideology. If you do not agree, you do not compete. So why have some people gotten upset? What I think is that the two discus throwers, Denia Caballero and Yaimé Pérez Téllez, could have been admitted as well.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are poised to break the record for athletes born in Cuba who will compete under the flags of other countries around the world, many of them with good chances of winning medals.

In the end, one's country is the world; "homeland is humanity," as Martí and friends said. A Cuban is a Cuban, regardless of the colors they wear. I only wish for the victory of all Cubans in Paris, those here, there, and beyond.