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Our interviewee today stood out during the golden age of wrestling in Cuba. His presence on world and Olympic podiums was a common sight. Nowadays, he lives in the United States and keeps the memories of those glorious times alive. Alexis Rodríguez answers our questions as he always has, with kindness and certainty.
Welcome to CiberCuba, “big guy”. You look great.
Hahaha. You never change, Julita. Yes, I feel very good. I am happy with my life, ready to answer your questions. So... go ahead!
Let's start with your current life. Tell us about it.
I am currently living in the state of Georgia, in the city of Cleveland. I work as a manager in a restaurant and occasionally help out at a high school as a wrestling coach, to stay in shape. I exercise and keep fit, which is important for health.
How did you arrive in the United States?
I arrived here from Europe after having worked at the African International Wrestling School. I visited my son in Italy and decided it was the right time to come. I arrived on parole, which my brother arranged for me.
Do you have any family here besides your brother?
Indeed, my brother has been living in this country since 2007, and he is an American citizen. Furthermore, I have several cousins.
You still have the characteristic of speaking little. But let's take a look back. Origins of Alexis, why the struggle?
I started at the Palace of the Pioneers with Professor Mayito when I was seven years old. I was recruited for the EIDE of Havana province by Silvio Urrutia and Cristóbal Feble. You know? At that time, I wasn't very stable because I didn't like being at the EIDE away from my family, so I spent my time going in and out.
I also participated in the School Games, where I won a medal in the +56 kg category. After spending some time in secondary school, I decided I wanted to be close to my brother, who has always been my role model, and I ended up attending the Provincial ESPA Julio Díaz in Artemisa. The late Pedro Betancourt had a significant influence on my development.
I learned a lot from him, and he always gave me good advice. His wisdom guided me towards the ESPA Nacional, where I enrolled at the age of 14. That's when I began to take sports more seriously. At that school, I was crowned national champion in both the school and youth categories. I achieved 4th place in the adult national championship at the age of 15, in 1994.
A year later, in September, I joined the national team, and in 1996, I became the top athlete in my category, 130 kg. At just 17 years old, I qualified for the Atlanta Olympic Games and won the Junior World Championship. At that time, I was trained by the late wrestler Bárbaro Morgan, with whom I achieved all my results.
I have my best memories of Bárbaro; besides being my coach, he was my father. Our relationship was very beautiful; I shared everything about my life with him, and he always helped me and guided me along a good path with his advice. It was always a loving relationship, that of a father and son.
How many years have you been in the national team; always wrestling?
Yes, freestyle was my style. I always liked it. Once in a while, while on the national team, I would train with the Greco-Roman wrestlers, but freestyle was my thing: more techniques, more mobility; I felt like a fish in water with freestyle wrestling.
Regarding my stay in Cerro Pelado, I was there from 1995 until 2008, when I decided to settle in Spain and steer my life in a different direction.
You already talked about your relationship with Bárbaro Morgan; was there any other coach who was influential in your career?
I have always gotten along well with all my coaches. Filiberto Delgado was my teacher at the National ESPA, and who doesn't know Fili, with his experience and dedication? I also remember with great respect Arturo Yáñez, with whom I maintain a brotherly relationship.
We have had a long-standing relationship since you were very young, but I'll never forget your torn trunks after the fight for the bronze medal in Sydney 2000.
You are bad, really bad. You don’t forget; I don't either. When I saw you signaling me because the journalists' cameras were on me and that thing was broken—and where it had broken! Hahaha! Nothing, nothing happened! And now we remember it with laughter.
My Olympic bronze medal is something I will always treasure because just look at what it took to earn it! There was even a financial offer involved, and I said, “I can't sell it; that medal belongs to many people—my family, my friends, my coach.”
I consider that third place a great achievement. Unfortunately, I lost to the Uzbek Artur Taymazov in the semifinals because I had every chance to compete for the gold against the Russian David Musulbes, who ultimately became the champion.
You were also a reference in World Championships. There were six medals in global competitions: champion in Tehran '98; four silver medals in Krasnoyarsk '97, again in Tehran in 2002, Budapest 2005, and Baku 2007; and bronze in Sofia 2001. Any anecdotes?
We wouldn't finish this interview if I recounted my experiences at those major events. I can tell you that the cream of the crop of world wrestling attended in all divisions, and as was characteristic, money was being moved around to try to "buy" matches. I don’t know why this happens in this sport.
Yes, I believe that my greatest achievement in the World Cups was, precisely, when I climbed to the top of the podium in Tehran '98, being sick, with a fever of 40 degrees. That was extraordinary! Not even the doctor believed it, but I did it!
Alexis Rodríguez finished in fifth place at the Athens 2004 Olympics (he was a strong favorite before the competition) in the 120-kilogram category, while for the Beijing 2008 Olympics he was one of the favorites.
Indeed, in 2008 I was also one of the favorites to win my division at the Olympic Games, but the disappointment I felt with everything that was happening to me was so great that I decided to stay in Spain.
In 2010, I entered Azerbaijan through the Wrestling Federation and began preparing to compete again in 2013. However, my mother became ill and had to undergo surgery.
Then, I went to the Cuban consulate with the goal of obtaining an entry permit to see her and they denied me entry, which to this day I still do not understand how one can be so despotic, so insensitive, so inhumane.
My mother passed away, and three months later, my grandmother. It was then that, through the mediation of the Red Cross and Human Rights, I was granted a permit for entry... three months later! For what? That’s when I decided that this government would take nothing.
In your long career, which wrestler was the most difficult for you?
My rivalry with the Uzbek Artur Taymasov was well known. For me, he was one of the most challenging opponents I had to face. We met on the mat several times, and I came out victorious on a few occasions, always in closely contested matches.
Current state of wrestling in the world and in Cuba…
At this moment, the rankings are complicated. Among the best, there are Russians and Americans, but the Japanese are making a strong impression, as they demonstrated in the recent Olympic Games. Furthermore, it's important to consider that the USSR has multiplied, and there are many excellent wrestlers across all the former Soviet republics.
As for Cuba, what can I say? Along with the very few conditions they have, neither Morgan nor Fili (who is with the girls) nor Arturo is there anymore—it's a mess!
Cuban wrestling is in a very poor state due to the loss of sports initiation schools. The conditions are not favorable, and needs are increasing. It is difficult to draw from a pool that is practically empty. The national team is not what it used to be; everything is very bad, and it is a shame, because it was the place that inspired every athlete to want to be there and to be one of the greats.
What is your main technique on the mat?
The one I used the most was an arm technique that had already become "the trademark of the house." These days, it's widely used by skilled wrestlers. I would execute a very effective maneuver with my arm after placing it under my opponent's arm. Then I would work it, applying pressure until I achieved my goal, which was to take them down to score the maximum points. It is known as the "underhook."
It is a form of control in which several movements are executed from that position. That technique of the arm underneath the opponent's arm is also very common in Greco-Roman wrestling.
Who do you think is the greatest fighter on the planet and the best Cuban wrestlers of all time?
From around the world, the current president of the National Wrestling Federation of the United States, Bruce Baumgartner, is remarkable, with all the titles and honors. For Cuba, Raúl Cascaret, Alejandro Puerto, Yandro Quintana and Yoel Romero.
And of course, our interviewee Alexis Rodríguez is also on this list. In addition to an Olympic bronze and six world medals, including one gold, he has achieved great success at both the continental and regional levels.
At 47 years old, a wonderful career brings pride to the Cuban who is experiencing his best moments in this welcoming land, the United States.
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