Amid increasing reports about the challenging situation of several sports legends, the Cuban government denied that any of them are left to fend for themselves and assured that they have institutional support.
During his interview on the state-run program Mesa Redonda, the national commissioner for Athlete Support, Wilmer Lewis Calvo, asserted that the country has structures dedicated to their support and denied that these former athletes are abandoned; however, the reality suggests otherwise.
"Our glories are neither forgotten nor dead. We fulfill Fidel's (Castro) purpose of keeping them active and present in society," declared Lewis Calvo.
The official acknowledged that there are frustrations and that there could be cases of former athletes in difficulties, but insisted that any reported situation will be addressed. “If someone is going through a tough time and we are not aware of it, through any means of communication, we will seek a solution,” he assured.
The statements come in a context of growing unrest on social media, where Cubans have reported the precarious conditions in which some legends of national sports live, many of them without access to basic resources.
In September 2024, it was revealed that Margarita Skeet, one of the great figures in women's basketball, was in total neglect and was surviving thanks to the help of her neighbors in the municipality of Cotorro, Havana.
In February 2023, Félix Isasi, a legend of Cuban baseball, denounced the neglect of institutions that often avoid responding to his requests.
In statements to the newspaper Girón from Matanzas, he mentioned that he occasionally visits sports organizations to demand answers to his requests, but they always respond with evasions: "I no longer hide the ball: now they hide it from me," the former star second baseman commented ironically, who became famous for surprising runners with hidden ball plays.
In 2022, former youth world champion in javelin Marisleysis Duharte Morell revealed the neglect of the government and sports authorities amid her battle against a chronic autoimmune rheumatic disease.
The former athlete from Santiago recalled that when she began her sporting life, she was "a healthy, cheerful person full of life," but after the illness, "no one remembers me, or who I am, or who I was, and even less what I contributed as an athlete to the nation."
A year earlier, the daughter of the renowned former baseball player Gaspar "El Curro" Pérez highlighted the neglect in which her father finds himself, who has owned a car that has been out of service for 11 years without being able to replace it.
The woman clarified that she is aware that other sports glories and active athletes who deserve it have their own car, but she questions why her father has never shown interest in them "nor has he kept them in mind."
Frequently Asked Questions about the Abandonment of Sports Glories in Cuba
Are the athletic glories in Cuba really abandoned?
Despite the Cuban government's statements denying the neglect of sports achievements, numerous cases indicate otherwise. Former athletes like Margarita Skeet and Félix Isasi have publicly denounced their situation of abandonment and lack of institutional support.
What does the Cuban government say about support for former athletes?
The Cuban government, through the national commissioner for Athlete Support, Wilmer Lewis Calvo, ensures that they have structures dedicated to supporting sports heroes and denies that they are being neglected. However, it is acknowledged that there are grievances, and attention to the reported cases is promised.
What is the reality of former Cuban athletes according to complaints on social media?
Social media has served as a channel to highlight the precarious situation in which many sports legends in Cuba live. Reports on platforms like Facebook have revealed cases of former athletes in critical conditions, lacking access to basic resources and state support, which contradicts official claims that they are not abandoned.
What examples stand out regarding the abandonment of athletes in Cuba?
Highlighted cases include Margarita Skeet, who survives thanks to the support of her neighbors, Félix Isasi, who has reported the evasion of institutions, and Miguelito Calderón, who is suffering in precarious conditions without the assistance he deserves. These examples reflect a pattern of systematic neglect towards athletes who have represented Cuba internationally.
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