The news is just beginning to socialize and wonder is total. Olympic champion and former world record holder in the 110 meter hurdles, Dayron Robles, is in Cuba. He has started training and his main objective is to re-represent our people in international competitions. Those were the statements by Santiago Antunez, guru of Cuban hurdles school, to Norman Hernandez, Villa Clara journalist with CMHW radio station.
The interview has been featured on various internet sites, but OnCuba preferred to give voice to the protagonists in order to see firsthand all about this good news. In a telephone conversation with Dayron, the Guantanamo athlete confirmed us his presence on the island, right here in the capital. He didn’t want to provide details of his or his shape or possible talks with Cuban athletics federation or INDER officials.
Minutes later we contacted Antunez, who was very grateful to have the opportunity to clarify the current status of his disciple. First of all, he confirmed the veracity of the interview that he gave CMHW. “Dayron actually is training in Havana and soon I will join him to continue the development of our immediate objectives.” Those were his first words
In relation to why they had chosen to continue on Cuban soil the training he commented: “He has every right to train here in Cuba, close to family and friends. And we were always open to any opportunity to represent our nation again…. this is why Dayron never signed any contract with another country … as a Cuban his motivation has always been to represent his country, his people . “
“We wanted to anticipate any options or law to permit his return to the national team in athletics. Everything indicates that this variant should be given in the near future, and we do not want to be outside … “the renowned coach added. In coming days OnCuba will have the opportunity to talk live with both icons of Cuban sports, and provide more details about this pleasant news.
Trying not to have any loose ends our next call was to the INDER Press Department where Jose Antonio Guerra answered us: “Dayron could be in Cuba as a Cuban citizen , but options to return to represent our island in competitions abroad are nil, since he was dismissed from our national team and our sports movement . “
Some time ago Dayron had stated in an interview with the AP that his application for discharge was marked by disappointments accumulated over the years. After participating in the summer event in London he decided to end his career. From the implementation of new immigration laws in the island, he decided to travel legally to France, where he set camp. The longing for the hurdles was always present and then he signed a contract with the Monaco Club to restart his career.
In June this year he reappeared at a meeting in Torino, Italy. From Havana, the president of the Cuban Athletics Federation, Alberto Juantorena showed his utter dissatisfaction with this presentation and told Trabajadores newspaper: “… he is not a member of our sports movement and therefore he cannot represent Cuba at international events, and we don’t approve he does it for any club. “
Two months later, Orlando Ortega, the new figure who led Cuban short hurdles, decided to leave the delegation that attended the World Championship held in Moscow. Ortega had been suspended by the federation after missing a European competition, but the agency lifted the sanction in the days before the universal tournament.
By the way we could contact him via Facebook, and although he was unaware of the arrival in Cuba of Dayron, he was very happy with the news.
Author
Daniel A. Fernández
