Running the Havana marathon means making stops in several of the most significant points of the city and its history, crossing the obstacles of its streets, getting wet with the salt water along the stretch of the seafront drive. It also means hearing people complain about the changes made to the urban transportation routes. This Sunday Marabana celebrated its first 30 years. And thousands of people participated, among them 3,076 locals and 1,953 foreigners from 113 countries. They ran in the three distances convened for men and women: 10 kilometers, 21 km and 98 meters and 42 kilometers and 195 meters. Photo: Regino Sosa The United States headed the foreign delegations with 840 runners, followed by Germany (150), France (90), Spain (90), Mexico (90) and the United Kingdom (50). Dozens of Colombians, Australians, Peruvians, Italians also participated. The 30th edition of this event became the third with the biggest international turn out, only surpassed by the 1992 Central American and Caribbean Games and the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana. “The constant registration of visitors is due to reasons like Cuba’s being a tourist attraction, the uninterrupted holding of this race and the strategic international alliances that make it possible...

The Executive Committee of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) has made a decision many consider controversial and hasty: to strip Guillermo Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KO) of his super-bantamweight belt. WBO executives explained that the decision was made over the Santiago de Cuba boxer’s long periods of inactivity. Rigondeaux, who won the belt in 2013 after defeating Nonito Donaira of the Philippines, has only stepped onto the ring three times to defend the title. The last of his bouts, boxing authorities stress, was more than nine months ago (on December 31). “He won’t announce when he’ll hold another match. We don’t know what the reasons are. There are 15 ranked fighters waiting for the opportunity. We can’t deprive them of that just to protect Rigondeaux,” said Francisco Valcarel, one of the executives who voted against the Cuban boxer. There is truth to this. The two-time Olympic medalist and his agency, Caribe Promotions, received a warning from the WBO Championship Committee several weeks ago, a warning that was very much like an ultimatum. In response, the work team of the undefeated Caribbean boxer explained that the reason was that none of the first choices, nor any of the leading boxers in other...

Ana Fidelia used to run – or, better, fly – around the world’s 800-meter tracks. This woman from Santiago de Cuba, popularly known as the “Storm of the Caribbean,” became an athletics legend near the end of the 1980s, when she showed herself nearly invincible, winning more than 30 consecutive races between 1987 and 1991. Born in Palma Soriano in 1963, she has a record of achievements that is almost unparalleled, eclipsed only by the absence of an Olympic gold medal. She is one of the best 800-meter track runners of all time, who even managed to become world champion on several occasions, after enduring 3rd degree burns on a large part of her body following an accident at home halfway through her career. At her home in Havana’s neighborhood of Playa, OnCuba spoke with Fidelia, an icon, a symbol of perseverance, and one of the most renowned figures in the history of Cuban sports. When did you feel closer to the Olympic title, in Barcelona 1992 or Atlanta 1996? In Atlanta. Many people say I underestimated Mutola a bit, but I don’t believe that’s true. I didn’t do what I had to do in the race, tactically, what my...

In early April, a Cuban wrestling team of just over 10 members will depart for the United States. It will be the first flight of a total of three during 2015. Perhaps the most in one calendar year in history. Crossing the Florida Strait is not by chance. Continuous sweat and perpetual effort is latent in this adventure. Months before they had to grab and hold it hard to have those visas in their possession. The exponents of this style finished fourth in the world championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 2014, an achievement that led to its classification for the Team World Cup in Los Angeles, to be held on April 11 and 12. It will be an event where the great powers of the discipline will shake hands before they will clash on the mattress. Cubans are traveling with suitcases full of aspirations and ambitions. And that is not hidden by the head coach of this modality, Julio Mendieta, who, as solicitous as always did not hesitate to make clear that the struggle is with the Americans. The Cubans, anchored in group A, also have as companions Mongolia (sixth in the Worlds) and Russia (first). And with the latter,...

It remains for Cubans Domadores to go through the qualifying stage of the V World Series of Boxing. They still miss, but it seems extremely difficult they will not lead the franchise group A and enlist directly in the semifinals of the event, as dictated by the regulations. The fight continued this weekend, and Domadores reminisced about their start by sweeping, uncompromising in the scrimmage, the Desert Falcons of Algeria, visitors in Havana. Again, at home and before their people, the Domadores came to the Sports City´s Coliseum, where also were without headers Teofilo Stevenson, Angel Herrera, Emilio Correa, José Gómez and dozens more glories. On this occasion, but bare-chested, new gladiators want to emulate and endorse the story that others one day wrote. It was so they annihilated 5-0 the Hawks who do not take flight and continues sunk in the table. Looser than he was before we saw the light flyweight Jhoanys Argilagos (49 kg), willing to get off the ring happy. His rival, with mediocre boxing arguments seemed to be handcuffed. The best youth athlete of 2013 gave no respite to Zoheir Toudjine and with his demonstration of confidence and skill, he made it clear that much...

Cuba, its boxing and Domadores kept their perfect pace in the V World Series of Boxing (WSB) after four wins and one defeat reached over the British Lionhearts in Havana´s Sports City. Friday´s achievements kept Cubans as absolute leaders in Group A, with 18 points, and the only franchise without losing points within the group. The match began with the success of World bronze Yosbany Veitía (49 kilograms) over the Dominican nationalized Spanish Kelvin de la Nieve, who now reinforces the European team. The unanimous vote left no room for doubt about the superiority of Veitia, moreover, unbeaten in 11 bouts in the WSB. To keep pace, the two-time world champion Lazaro "Prince" Alvarez (60) imitated his counterpart. His rival, the French king Oualid Belaoura did not give truce and accepted the challenge of who surpasses him in all aspects of boxing. However, this can be considered the worst fight of Alvarez in the WSB, with wide shots and deteriorated guard. The program´s decision came through the London Olympic champ Roniel Iglesias (69) in a discrete presentation, where his technical and physical preparation were absent, but despite everything, it was solved 3-0 against Haizel Ekow Tabiri-Essuman. The fight was the...

In order not to lose pace or speed, Cuban hurdlers are having great performances in the Old Continent. Just 72 hours ago, Orlando Ortega and Dayron Robles made the one- three in the athletic meeting Pedro's Cup in Poland. Only the American Aries Merritt got in the way. However, as to leave no room for doubt that this season is looming successful, the Cubans dominated at will the last meeting held in an indoor stadium. This is the third consecutive victory for Ortega, 24. He debuted in Berlin (7 seconds and 52 hundredths), then went to Polish soil (7.45 best record of the year) and now in Stockholm, Sweden, he stopped the clock at 7.52. These elements dictate clearly his state of grace, because times are his historic highs in 60 meter hurdles. On the event, Ortega said that despite the cold he felt good, "It was a pretty good race. What has pleased me most is stability. I am calm about it and I think at some point best times must come". On the possibility of attending the World Championships in Athletics, agreed to Beijing, which has raised several questions, the Olympic finalist also expressed via Facebook: "We do...

The Cuban Orlando Ortega got the attention of athletics specialists by winning the 60 meters hurdles in the Pedro's Cup, held in Poland. Ortega, sixth in London Olympic Games, showed an enviable power to come from behind and stopping the clocks at seven seconds and 45 hundredths, which became the season best. On the start, vital element in this type of races, the Pan American bronze in Guadalajara in 2011 said that now is not worried much: "I have to improve the first part and the initial hurdle, but that I will get through the events. I feel great and the important thing is to keep winning. Otherwise, super good, I hope to continue improving in the coming events. I wish run faster than 7. 40, as it would be very interesting. I feel happy and calm, "said the native from Cuban Artemisa province. His debut in the winter season was in Berlin on Valentine's Day, where he stopped the clocks at 7.51, the second best time this year indoors. The meeting, by the way, the most important indoors on Polish soil, was also attended by another Cuban, Dayron Robles (7.64), Olympic champion in Athens, Greece, who finished in third...

Cuban Marcos Forestal debuted in style in professional boxing when beating by knockout in the second round the veteran Hungarian Ignac Kassai ( 16-38, 15 KO), in a combat held in Queens, New York. The native of Guantanamo province defeated his rival with a left hook in a fight agreed to four rounds. The test, of course, was not so rigorous for the former member of the Cuba Domadores, who left the official delegation on April 12, 2014, when the national team was getting ready for the quarter-final match against the United States in the 4th World Series of Boxing (WSB). The Cuban boxer is now training under the command of the famous Jesse Reid, who has also trained Hector Camacho, Roger Mayweather (brother of Floyd Sr.), Lamon Johnny Tapia, among others, besides being member of the Hall of Fame since a decade. Currently he resides in Los Angeles, after signing with his new representative, the Irish manager Gary Hyde. The European is who rules the destinies of one of the best pound per pound boxer in the world, the also Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux, 122-pounds leader. The latest information dictates that Forestal will return to the ring n ext March...

The defeat of novel Joanhys Argilagos and victories by debutant Andy Cruz, Yasnier Toledo, Arlen Lopez and Erislandy Savon tinged the fifth ´match of the Cuba Domadores at the World Series of Boxing. Despite losing easily in the match, the Guerreros de Mexico are news to cut the impressive streak of 20 wins by the Cubans in an evening that had as venue the Olympic gym in Aguascalientes, north of Mexico City. The first setback of the current monarch franchise has always had reserved forecasts. Joselito "Hurricane" Velázquez (49 kilograms) ran over young Joanhys Argilagos in the initial bout with strong hooks to the stomach of his opponent, on the offensive most of the time, without despair and then with a lead, he moved back. Meanwhile, the visitor received indications not to exchange, in and out, and strike when his opponent was unprotected. The strategy was unsuccessful and the unanimous vote was consistent to that seen in the ring. However, contrary to what they say, the Mexican is not the great fighter they sometimes wanted to sell. He is average on the way down. Before the Cuban Yosvany Veitía, his balance was a success and three defeats - his victory...

Like a fish in water, like a lion in the savanna , that is the way the Cuba Domadores, defending champion, feel themselves during each match in the 5th World Series of Boxing (WSB). Their actions reaffirm them as clear candidates for the top this year, and their third sweep at the Sports city Coliseum (fourth globally) make them maintaining the leadership of group A. It looks like a memorized script which is yet enjoyed: each confrontation invariably leads to a victory. And in their last appearance we witnessed how the C-2 format (52, 60, 69, 81 and 91 kg) remained undefeated, this time against the China Dragons, a franchise that landed without its leading figures. Yosvany Veitía, world bronze medalist, defeat ed 3-0 Yong Chan, with scorecards of 49-46, 50-45 and 50-45. This was his 10th win in this type of event without the shadow of a loss. Now at 52 kilograms, the also Pan American runner up is proving to be one of the exponents called to contribute this year in the continental and universal tournaments. "I'm much focused to get the Olympic ticket. It's refreshing to maintain the supremacy. I feel myself strong at this new weight,...

Germán Mesa Fresneda, "The Wizard", landed in Managua last September, with the idea of achieving his second title in Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League. In 2013, the legendary number 11 of Cuban baseball reached the scepter of the local tournament when coaching the Chinandega Tigers. That time he was accompanied by his squire. For a couple of seasons Mesa was accompanied by perhaps the greatest amateur player who has seen the Earth: Omar Linares. A duet that on the diamond was synonymous of pleasure. However, this time Linares stayed at home and just last December 28 received his plaque as a member of the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame. The Pinar-Havana formula joined together at some point to rule the destiny of Industrialists. With the blue team the results were not very positive. Without greatly digressing in numbers (128 wins - 142 losses in the regular season and 12-6 in post season), there are only remembered a couple of play offs without Industriales and a title in the 49th Series, which according what it was always said, is most by merits of the players than by the coach, but the substitutions, in spite of everything, were made by Mesa. Now in...

The thousands of kilometers were no impediment to the Domadores to show their fieriness and predatory instinct during the second appearance of the Cuban franchise in the 5th World Series of Boxing (WSB). This time Algeria was the opposing team, but neither its local status deprived them from the sweep when facing a concentrated monarchs, willing not to lend their crown.

Untreatable as usual, the Cuba Domadores perfectly did their work and drastically solve their debut in the 5th World Series of Boxing (WSB) at the Sports City Coliseum in Havana. In uneven match from start to finish, which was taking voltage over time, the debutants Morocco Lions did not find their natural habitat and were easily beaten 0-5. The show was stolen by Erislandy Savon (91 kg ), who showed immediately his class and defeated by KO, after a crushing blow, Amine Azzouzi, at only two minutes and 20 seconds of the first round. A powerful, unstoppable and unfriendly left swing crashed into the face of the African, who was sitting on the ring a good time looking for the correct answer to the following question: so what happened? " I owe my sporting shape to training, my coaches, and the urge to move forward and be better every day. Each of my victories is dedicated to the people who follow us on television and support us, "the best exponent of the last version said. Thus , Savon remained unbeaten in the WSB, and is emerging as a strong candidate to achieve the unique berth this division grants to Rio...

December 31 is a day of celebration. For Cuba is synonymous with rum and beer, pork and much pigskin, dominoes with friends and family. But that December 31 was not like that, not even close for "The Jackal", Guillermo Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KOs). Far from his native Santiago de Cuba, his conga, his Creole ajiaco was he, willing to show his talent. Even far removed from the United States, where today he has his lair. The champion at 122 pounds would defend his Super Bantamweight World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Association (WBA) title just hours shy of 2015 and although there were hallmarks he reached the new year with a smile from ear to ear . His rival, the Japanese Hisashi Amagasa (28-5-2, 19), home moreover, was not a novel, rather an old fox with aspirations and pretensions of grandeur. Accustomed to make his and use his tricks at 126, put the Cuban in serious, but serious difficulties at the beginning because of his greater scope and size. Not forgetting (that is stronger) than in weighing he had the same pounds (121.4) and as for fight night he was at 141. Abysmal difference. Notwithstanding all this, one of the...

It is said, and it is not a lie, that the pre-Olympic year always brings good sensations in the world of sports. 2014 left encouraging moments for Cuba, and had its peak when winning the Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz . There were not few who thought the regional leadership would cease. In the end, Mexico fell short, and the delegation of Cuba did its job. Precisely, in Aztec lands , one of the disciplines that most contributed to the Cuban delegation was athletics with 23 titles and 46 medals in total. This favorable amount "closed" (we could also say that opened) a discrete international season in terms of results, and where the other significant highlight came at the beginning. The first quality event was the World Championship of Sopot, Poland, held from March 7 to 9. On European soil, and indoor, the pole vaulter Yarisley Silva said goodbye to poor results after a shaky general preparation, and with her best performance of the period, 4.70 meters , reached the top. Equal highlight was achieved by Guantanamo’s Ernesto Reve, runner up in triple jump, who left the bronze medal to Santiago’s Pedro Pablo Pichardo. The latter was then...

The boxer from Cuban easternmost province, Guantanamo, Erislandy Lara (20-2, 12 KOs), super welter champions of the AMB had his way again at the Illusion Thearter, in San Antonio, Texas, when he beat American Ishe Smith (26-7, 12 KOs) who looked helpless on the ring against the mastery of the Cuban.Lara fought his usual way and kept the belt in this category by easily winning over his opponent by unanimous decision. Smith looked for Lara the whole night but simply couldn’t find him. The superiority was even more evident after seeing who the judges saw the fight and scored on behalf of the Cuban: 119-109, 119-109 and 117-111.This combat had been postponed for Lara to have a much more known rival, Mexican Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, last July 12. In a very controversial call, the Cuban was beaten on a divided decision, despite many seen him as the true winner, thanks to exact hitting, but his lack of offense was an element for two judges to see the Mexican have some advantage.After the match Lara said he would love to have a shot at fighting the best pound-by-pound boxer of the world: ¨I hope I can fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. If...

Cuba returned to the top of the oldest regional event in the world after 16 days of intense struggle, fraternal battles, strategies and positive and negative results. The 123 Cuban titles were more than the 115 crowns reached by a local Mexican who sold their defeat dearly and paved the way towards maintaining the supremacy of four years ago in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, when the island was absent and the road was clear. During this period there were great moments and outstanding performances in general, those that make us vibrate, keep in suspense and force us to shout for joy or head down to sigh deeply. OnCuba selected the ten most sublime feats of the Cuban delegation, with no order and aware of the absence of some who made enough credits and deserve to be here. Ten great feats of Cuba in the XXII Central American and Caribbean Games: Soccer: Just some lost their voice with the goal of Yordan Santa Cruz, although all suffered with the missed penalty, but the work was already done. For nearly a decade, maybe since that World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica under the reins of the Peruvian Miguel Company, foreign clubs concentrated all...

Few thought of Santiago Amador as the favorite to dominate the 49 kg division in the Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz. Not even his coaches ventured into predicting a triumph of the 23 years old youngster from Matanzas. Perhaps only he trusted his chances. If so, he failed. Amador was the only Cuban boxer who returned empty-handed from Mexico. Only the vacancy left by Yosvani Veitía in that category opened the doors to this aggressive fighter to represent his land. However, he still has much to improve. The Matanzas boxer witnessed the commendable performance of his team-mates in Aztec soil. There the Cuban boxing did its thing, in a year that can be described as the best of the last decade. The title of the Domadores in the Fourth World Series (WSB, for its acronym in English) in their debut, crowns reached in several tournaments in Europe, excellent dividends in the World Youth Championship and the second Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China, and the awakening of various figures in the national team and the election of three of its troops from the highlights of the sport in this 2014, are elements that show the performance of the sport...

I know Yipsi Moreno´s tears. And all the people of Cuba know them too. It is not easy to forget that defeat, if you can call it that, in the Olympic Games in Athens '04. There she cried. We all expected the victory and with it, her wide grin. Yes, because behind the strong girl who didn’t let anyone to beat her, which showed herself serious, impetuous, courageous in the cage of throwing, hides also a woman that speaks softly, sweet tone, much laughter and mentions the name of her little one in every interview. Yipsi was second in Greece, although she was due the gold. Fate didn’t want it, and at the end life didn’t award her the golden metal, only that she lacked. Four years later she got the same result, the silver medal in Beijing, China, but it was not the same. The timing was in Greek lands. 2004 was a momentous year in her sporting career. After being the boss in two world championships consecutively - Edmonton'01 and París'03-, she was envisioned as the leading candidate in the Olympics. Her name as top seed was written in uppercase when in April, here in Havana, the Camagüey...

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) continues making headlines and correcting details in search of making its main event, the World Series, an event followed by many, full of entertainment and competitiveness. When the news is still fresh on the election of three exponents of the Cuban School as part of the best of this 2014, another informative headline regarding the Domadores comes to our sports page. Germany, that in the edition number four did not get to any positive dividends, was replaced by a universal power of this discipline which will make of group A lot more cumbersome. The new team is England, owner of a rich history in the art of fists from the early twentieth century. Its call raises the cache of the tournament at the expense of the Germans, who did little in the ring and left much to be desired. Also strengthens the segment of the Cubans, who already knew the presence of Russia, Algeria, China, Ukraine, Morocco and Mexico. Records show that in the Olympic Games in London in 1908 Albert Oldman won the gold medal in the heavyweight division, or Sir Henry Cooper, British ex-boxer, British champion, European and Commonwealth. A man who once...

The 22nd Central American and Caribbean Games will be held in Veracruz, from November 14 to 30, and a large Cuban delegation travels with the aim of reigning. Wrestling is one of the sports called to provide a good amount of titles. Only a few hours remain for the main challenge of the Cuban sports in 2014 to start. The sight lies in the Mexican city of Veracruz , where over five hundred athletes born in this country are gradually going in pursuit of recovering what was traditionally theirs. Finishing first seems much harder this time than before, so forecasting this time is a random topic. Because of this, no one talks about the total amount of titles, but about sport s, with their respective objectives, which can catapult Cuba to the top, after the absence four years ago in Mayaguez , Puerto Rico. Without doubt, the disciplines of athletics, shooting, rowing, archery and combat sports stand out in the search for that common goal. Among the latter, it is inevitably to highlight judo, taekwondo, boxing and wrestling, in its two styles. Oncuba was precisely fortunate to access Julio Mendieta, freestyle head coach of the national pre-selection of the ancient...

The deafening sound of revving is almost unbearable for the public, the atmosphere is quickly flooded with soft traces of oil and gas, sound the horn in unison and classic cars from the V8 Club of Havana, with their raised hoods, invite you to explore on more than half a century history. Among them stands the bulk purr of a car of green and black color, carrying a number 13 on the side and bears an inscription that emulates the best baseball nickname: Misil del Cerro. It is, according to car fans, the fastest car in Cuba. Eduardo Hernández, owner of El Misil del Cerro / Photo: Courtesy of the author In Papa's Restaurant, at the Havana’s Marina Hemingway, OnCuba spoke with Eduardo Hernandez, owner and driver of the vehicle, who stated that he made several internal changes in the mechanics of his car to increase the power and speed. "I lowered the ceiling and transformed the hood to gain in aerodynamics, plus moved the engine back four inches looking to change the center of gravity and achieve greater grip of the tires," said Hernandez. The car, a two-door pillar less 1956 Chevrolet has timed according to its owner about...

Frank Lombardi, Julie Lederman and Bill Morande were the judges involved in the most recent combat of a Cuban in professional boxing, and who, to the delight of many, showed equal cards of 120-108 in favor of Rancés Barthelemy (21-0, 12 knockouts) in his at all friendly fight against the experienced Argentine Fernando "El Vasco" Saucedo (52-6-3, 8 knockouts) in his first defense of the IBF super featherweight title. The fight, at the Fox Theatre, in Foxwoods casino-hotel in Mashantucket, Connecticut, was a solo of the Caribbean during the twelve rounds, and the unanimous ruling clearly showed the superiority exerted by Barthelemy; although the KO never came in a fight that was boring at times. The refined technique - nothing new in boxers born in Cuba, the reach, the meager sporting ability of his opponent and the magnificent moment lived by Barthelemy impacted as some of the factors that merged to the consummation of the fact. This is a step that puts him, of course, in the orbit of the best in the division, and assures him a ticket to higher commitments in major venues and more succulent economic purses. The Argentine boxer arrived to the combat with a winning...

The Cuban boxer Ramces Barthelemy (20-0, 12 KOs) will expose on Saturday the belt of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) that he won when unanimously beating the Dominican Argenis Mendez in Miami, last July. His opponent will be the Argentine Fernando "El Vasco" Saucedo (52-5-3, 8 KOs), experienced fighter, but without a terrifying punch, according to his record. However, the gaucho is not an opponent that lacks level, and this is supported by his vast experience on the ring and the top class rivals he has faced. Nor should we forget that he ranks amongst the best in the FIB, much less that is is by chance that he can compete for the aforementioned super featherweight belt. Precisely for these reasons, the look of promoters, experts and fans will be on Mashantucket, Connecticut, this weekend. The South American, 32, amasses 14 consecutive wins, so it's easy to perceive the outstanding momentum his sporting career is experiencing. The last of those wins was achieved by KO in the third round against Luis Armando Juarez, on July 27, in Buenos Aires . This will be Barthelemy´s first defense of his crown, and the duel is sold as a great opportunity to reiterate...