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A new leaked photo of the two-time Olympic champion, Alberto Juantorena, confirms the significant physical decline of the prominent Cuban athlete, who is 74 years old and had his last official public appearance 20 months ago.
In the image in question—obtained exclusively by CubaNet—the former athlete appears extremely thin and seated in a wheelchair.
The photo was reportedly taken a few days ago at her residence, according to the independent media outlet.
"It's still the same," commented a source close to one of the most prominent figures in Cuban sports history.
Previously, in April of this year, the mentioned independent media outlet had already shared another photo of Juantorena.
That image already indicated that the ex-athlete's physical condition was fragile; however, the leaked photo now reveals that the deterioration has worsened in recent months.
In that case, Juantorena was seen sitting in a wheelchair next to Roberto Vargas Lee, director of the Cuban Wushu School.
"The two-time Olympic champion Alberto Juantorena has not regained his health; he still requires a wheelchair even to move around his home and continues to experience speech anomalies," the aforementioned source revealed, citing testimonies from those close to the national athletics community.
"It's still complicated," summarized a former official, who requested anonymity and recently visited him at his home.
Although there have been no updates in official media for months regarding the clinical progress of the prominent Cuban former athlete, nor about his current diagnosis or condition, Cubanet had already reported in November 2023 that Juantorena's health had worsened.
It was specifically reported that he used a wheelchair and had difficulties speaking.
In August 2022, Juantorena was reported to be in critical condition at the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine in Havana, suffering from dengue and post-Covid-19 syndrome.
According to Cubanet, his last public appearance was in March 2023 during a meeting with the IOC president, Thomas Bach, at the Pan American Stadium in Havana. On that occasion, he appeared to be in good health.
In August of last year, Alberto Juantorena was appointed Honorary Member of the World Athletics (WA) Council and also received the Gold Order of Merit, the highest distinction awarded by the governing body of world athletics.
The Olympic double champion from Montreal '76 presided over the Cuban Federation and held one of the vice-presidencies of INDER for nearly three decades. He was also a member of the World Athletics Council (formerly IAAF) from 1987 until this year, and served as its vice president from 2015 to 2019.
Frequently asked questions about the health status of Alberto Juantorena and the situation in Cuba
What is Alberto Juantorena's current state of health?
Alberto Juantorena is in a delicate physical condition, using a wheelchair and experiencing difficulties speaking. His decline has been gradual since his last public appearance in March 2023.
What illnesses has Alberto Juantorena faced recently?
In August 2022, Juantorena was reported to be in critical condition due to dengue and post-Covid-19 syndrome, which has contributed to his currently fragile health.
How has the economic crisis impacted the health of prominent figures in Cuba?
The economic crisis has severely impacted the provision of adequate healthcare and resources for notable individuals in Cuba. Jorge Losada, a Cuban actor, is also struggling to obtain a wheelchair due to the lack of resources, highlighting the critical state of the health and support system on the island.
How has the Cuban government responded to the health situation of its sports and cultural figures?
The Cuban government has demonstrated a lack of adequate attention to the health needs of its figures, as evidenced by the cases of Juantorena and other artists like Jorge Losada. The responses are insufficient to meet the urgent needs of these individuals.
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