The story of Ramiro Mora, one of the Cubans under other flags in Paris 2024, reflects the struggles and triumphs of those seeking a new beginning in foreign lands while pursuing their sports dreams.
It is the story of a circus artist who decided to leave his homeland behind and start anew in the United Kingdom, where he applied for political asylum in 2019. But it is also about the man who visited his family in 2021 and did not hesitate to participate in a protest against the dictatorship on the island, as recalled by the magazine El Estornudo.
Just after that event, Mora demonstrated his skill in weightlifting by winning the title in the 89-kilogram category at the tournament in that region in 2022 and continued his rise by winning gold in the 96 kg category in 2023.
That outstanding career earned him international recognition and, on December 1, 2023, he received refugee status. Additionally, luck smiled upon him as he obtained a scholarship from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), designed to support athletes in that situation and facilitate their participation in global competitions.
Thus, the IOC took this into account to form the Olympic Refugee Team for Paris 2024, along with another 35 selected athletes, including his compatriot Fernando Dayán Jorge, who resides in the United States.
In just a few hours, Mora will be on the Olympic platform and will compete in the 102-kilogram category, as a reward for her skills and personal determination, after successfully passing those tests of resilience that life often imposes.
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