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The beautiful facility designated for the wrestling tournament in Santo Domingo, host of the 2003 Pan American Games, was home to the final match of the freestyle event in the 66-kilogram division. On one side was the Colombian Edison Hurtado; on the other, the Cuban Serguei Rondón. In the end, victory went to the Antillean, who, 22 years after that event, shares his life experience with us.
"Oh, Julita, what a pleasure it is to talk with you! It's been such a long time since we last saw each other. I still remember that interview after my victory. It was wonderful to chat with you just like now," he expresses with excitement. "Indeed," I reply, "and I am very happy to see you."
Our meeting takes place in Houston, Texas, where he lives with his wife, the former wrestler Yolanda Cordero.
What’s new with you? What are you up to?
We live here in Houston and I work at the Miller Piper Yard, where oil pipes are stored. I initially worked in security and currently, I am working in the plants as a pipe fitter. We are doing very well, and we are expecting our child.
What can you tell me about your time as a wrestler?
Imagine. I don't forget either the good moments or the bad ones. It was many years spent on the world's mattresses, giving and receiving "big hits," applying holds, and "striking."
I will never forget my joy at the Multi-Sport Games in Santo Domingo and Cartagena de Indias, nor the sadness when I lost the chance to advance in Athens 2004 or when I missed the bronze at the World Championship in the United States.
Serguei Rondón won the title at the 2003 Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic and placed fourth at the World Championship in New York that same year, after losing the bronze medal match to the Japanese Kazuhiko Ikematsu.
He secured the Olympic ticket for Athens 2004 when he was defeated in his first match on the mat by the Ukrainian Elbrus Tedeyev, who would later become the Olympic champion, which caused him to be "dragged down."
Upon returning to the mat, he defeated the Georgian Otar Tushishvili with a technical superiority victory of 10 points, leaving his opponent weakened and injured. Although he finished second in his preliminary group and ninth overall, his performance was not enough to advance to the quarter-finals, but his showing can be considered commendable: a ninth place among the best in the world, in a division filled with excellent gladiators.
Additionally, he won the gold medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Cartagena de Indias 2006.
How did you get started in wrestling?
I studied for four years at the EIDE "Mártires de Barbados". In 1990, I joined the CEAR "Córdova Cardín" until in 1994 I joined the national pre-selection, which trained at "Cerro Pelado" under the guidance of Filiberto Delgado, the great coach and father Filiberto Delgado. In 1998, I was part of the first team under the direction of "Fili" and Arturo Yánez.
From there, I started my journey through the world's mattresses, and besides my successful participation in continental and regional competitions, my career highlights include gold and bronze medals in the Team World Cups held in Uzbekistan in 2005 and Azerbaijan in 2006. A golden era for Cuban wrestling!
Precisely, while Greco has remained among the elite, not only with the extraordinary Mijaín López, freestyle wrestling has been in freefall.
Look, since they "disappeared" Fili, for which, by the way, they gave us no explanation, "only that they moved him where necessary" (¿?) —what an absurd justification!—, the wrestlers have not bounced back. The debacle was Beijing 2008, where five Cubans fought for bronze and all five lost. That, besides being unexpected, was incredible.
For you, who is the best wrestler in the world?
That question is unnecessary: the Russian Buvaisar Saitiev, a triple Olympic champion and six-time world champion... And of course, the best in Greco-Roman, by far, Mijaín López!
When did you leave Cuba?
I was part of the national team for two periods (1998-2009 and 2013-2017), as I was sanctioned for indiscipline. It was four years that nobody understood, because what I did were just childish things, but it seems that I wasn't very liked.
I lost the chance to go to London 2012. And well, it just wasn't the same. I injured my neck, I couldn't handle the training like before, and after an invitation from Filiberto Delgado, who was then the girls' coach, I started training women's wrestling. I was there for almost two years.
I reconnected with an old girlfriend and was given the choice between her and staying there. I left for the EIDE of Cotorro and worked on my sport alongside Yuniel Fonseca.
Do you want me to tell you something? That didn't work out, the people who "always cared for me" turned their backs on me, the hardships increased, and I decided to travel to Nicaragua in August 2022, helped by Luisitín (Luis Ibáñez, also a fighter, who was already in the United States and always extended a helping hand to me).
Did you arrive in the United States right after the tour of "the volcanoes"?
No, first I worked a year and a half in Mexico, at an MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) academy. After that time, I "took the plunge and came here," entering through Matamoros on January 6, 2024. What a gift the Kings gave me, girl!
But it wasn't just me who entered: my ex-wife and mother of my daughter, the judoka Yaritza Abel; my 11-year-old girl, Yarisel; my current partner Yolanda Cordero, who, as I mentioned, also practiced wrestling... And here we all are! We have already completed a year... The American dream!, and my wife is seven months pregnant.
Happiness is evident on Serguei's face, who has achieved the Olympic medal of life. Current plans.
I told you I worked at the Miller Piper Yard as a pipe installer, but our dream, that of the fighters who are here, Luisitín and Odelis Herrero, is to create an academy to take in children and adolescents from the streets. So they can find in sports a path to development. It is our dream, and I believe we will achieve it.
I say goodbye to Serguei Rondón with a strong hug, the same one we exchanged 22 years ago at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, the same one we repeatedly shared at Cerro Pelado. Wishing you success, my boy... you have the right to dream!
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