Cubans under other flags in Paris 2024: Enmanuel Reyes, "The Prophet" who dreams of Olympic redemption

Enmanuel Reyes represents Spain for the second time in the Olympics. In Tokyo, he lost to the Cuban Julio César la Cruz, who, upon winning, shouted, "Homeland and Life, no! Homeland or Death, we will overcome!"

  • CiberCuba Editorial Team

Enmanuel Reyes © Instagram / coe_es
Enmanuel ReyesPhoto © Instagram / coe_es

Enmanuel Reyes Pla, a 31-year-old boxer, represents Spain for the second time at the Olympic Games and claims that in Paris he will indeed be crowned with a gold medal.

Enmanuel was in Tokyo 2020, where he finished in fifth place after being defeated in the quarter-finals by Julio César la Cruz, an anticipated match in which "La Sombra," a four-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist from Rio 2016, won by a judges' decision of 4-1.

"The Prophet," who had announced that he would be the first to shout "Homeland and Life" in Tokyo, after losing had to listen to his rival shout "¡Homeland and Life, no! ¡Homeland or Death, we will overcome!".

Four years later, with a record that includes a bronze medal at the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships, a silver at the 2022 AIBA European Boxing Championships, and a bronze at the 2023 European Games in Krakow, Reyes believes he is more than ready to climb the podium in France.

"My aspirations in Paris focus on a single goal: the gold medal if God allows it. I finished in fifth place in Tokyo, also competing for Spain. Now I am preparing physically and mentally to be an Olympic champion; I am getting into my best shape, following what my coach has set for me, and most importantly, enjoying the process," he said in an interview with CiberCuba.

Born in Havana on December 14, 1992, Enmanuel became national runner-up against Eryslandy Savón in 2016, and that convinced him that in his country he would never be given the opportunity to be great, no matter how good he was, because "no one removes the established ones."

He then left for Moscow and also spent time in Belarus, Germany, and Austria, a true odyssey during which he even spent periods in prison for being illegal. He finally managed to arrive in Spain, where he was welcomed by his family and integrated into the Spanish Boxing Federation, which helped him obtain citizenship.

"I came to Spain because it always treated my family well and I wanted to defend its colors. They believed in me. I am not an Olympic athlete for money, but for the glory of being a champion," he said in 2020.

In these Games, Reyes will have his first match next Sunday, July 28.

"Expect the best from me, because I have worked to bring joy to all the people who follow me and provide support. Paris will be a great Olympics for Spanish boxing, for Galicians, and for me. Let's go all out," he assured.

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