{"id":292090,"date":"2023-11-25T13:27:07","date_gmt":"2023-11-25T18:27:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=292090"},"modified":"2023-11-25T13:33:46","modified_gmt":"2023-11-25T18:33:46","slug":"jhoen-lefont-from-alturas-de-simpson-to-the-guinness-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/sports\/jhoen-lefont-from-alturas-de-simpson-to-the-guinness-records\/","title":{"rendered":"Jhoen Lefont, from Alturas de Simpson to the Guinness Records"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cuban school of ball control has a long history and worldwide recognition. During the last decades, its exponents have established dozens of records in different categories that are already international and today set the standard within this competition of so many skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the main stars, we have Jhoen Lefont, an artist who has taken the dreams and challenges of this discipline of great efforts and balance to another level. What distinguishes the man from Matanzas, in addition to his ability to control the ball, is that his records and achievements have come from the water.<\/span><\/p>\n

For years, Lefont has conquered the pools with his fine and precise touches on the ball, with which he has earned the nickname \u201cDolphin.\u201d This is his life story…<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jhoen Lefont is an artist in the control of the ball in the water. Photo: Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How do you get to the aquatic world?<\/b><\/p>\n

The child I was, arrived a little abruptly, due to a great scare in my childhood. I have an older brother and I always played with his friends, older boys. We would set out from Simpson Heights, my neighborhood, and go to play in the Yumur\u00ed Valley, where there was a river with a somewhat deep lagoon. There, one day they suddenly pushed me and I had a very bad time, a tremendous scare. When we returned home, I told my parents and we decided that it was important to start swimming lessons.<\/span><\/p>\n

So you didn\u2019t start in water polo…<\/b><\/p>\n

No, I started swimming, but around the age of 7 we were left without a teacher and I spent almost two years disconnected from the sport until I returned to practice at age 9. In high school I began to be interested in water polo, it was more attractive to me since it was a game and, being a restless child, it completely won me over. I spoke to the teachers and changed sports. It was a great decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

How did your time in sports go from an early age to the national team?<\/b><\/p>\n

In polo, I began to have good results in some tournaments that were held in the province. There were very good players and they selected me as the best rookie. I was forced to raise my level. I was also captain of the Matanzas team; we got to be national runners-up and, on several occasions, I finished as the leading scorer. That led me directly to the junior national team, where I was also captain. After that category, I was promoted to the national senior preselection and I was there for five years.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Jhoen Lefont has set countless records in ball control in the water, a very complicated modality. Photo: Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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From swimming to water polo, and from water polo to ball control, Lefont has spent his entire career in the water. Photo: Ricardo L\u00f3pez Hevia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How and when did you discover the skill with the ball in the water?<\/b><\/p>\n

Since I was a child I had inclinations towards mastering the ball, I practiced it as an exercise in the water because it helped me with my personal preparation and, furthermore, I really liked it. It was never an idea to dedicate myself to it, nor did I think about establishing records. But later the people around me started appreciating my gifts. My water polo coach, Jorge del Valle, told me that what I did should be seen by the person in charge of the ball control school, and that is how I met the brothers Douglas and Erick Hern\u00e1ndez.<\/span><\/p>\n

What sparked your curiosity about pursuing and breaking records in ball control?<\/b><\/p>\n

Without a doubt, the influence of the school and the history of ball control in Cuba was very important and motivating. Without all the precedents that existed, I believe it would not have been possible to create a new modality. Meeting Douglas in particular was like opening a huge door for all my desires. He immediately put me to the test and liked the proposal of a new modality. At first, he thought it was in the shallow part of the pool, but when he discovered that it was in the deep part, without standing, his interest multiplied. He immediately put me on a training plan, which combined with the two daily work sessions that he had with the national water polo team. Those days were very hard, only hope and dreams make you overcome all those challenges in life.<\/span><\/p>\n