Before the Lima Pan American Games, let us remember Rafael Fortún and Ana Fidelia Quirot

July 11, 2019

The history of athletics at the Pan American Games is full of chapters of glory starring Cuban athletes. Many are the men and women who stood out from the first edition in Buenos Aires-1951.

A few days before the opening of the Lima edition, which will run from the 26th of this month to August 11, and where about 45 athletes from our country will participate in athletics, we would like to recall some facts and their protagonists, who have marked the path of Cubans through these competitions.

Argentina enjoyed the speed of a dark-skinned athlete from Camagüey, who emerged as the absolute master of speed: Rafael Fortún, or the Lightning of the Caribbean. He dominated the 100 and 200 meter sprints with courage and defying predictions: 10.6 seconds in the premier event and 21.3 in the double hectometer.

It is also fair to note the first Cuban woman to win at the Pan American level, the short hurdles specialist—at that time they were 80 meters and not 100 as today—Bertha Díaz, who stopped the clocks at 11.2 seconds during the 1959 competition in Chicago, when four years earlier she had been a silver medalist in Mexico City. At that same Aztec competition, Bertha triumphed in the 60 meter dash, with 7.5 seconds, an event that was only held in 1955 and 1959.

THE STORM OF THE CARIBBEAN
Cuba has counted on universal stars of success in the regional sphere. The most notable is undoubtedly Ana Fidelia Quirot, winner of eight medals: four titles, three second places and one bronze medal.

The Storm of the Caribbean achieved the double in the 400 and 800 in Indianapolis-1987 and Havana-1991. In the Cuban capital she lived two glorious moments after setting Games records: 49.61 seconds in the lap around the oval and 1:58.71 in her favorite event, the 800 meters. Almost three decades later, these feats are still unreachable.

Liliana Allen also mounted the podium on eight occasions at these games (three gold, four silver and one bronze) and made history in Havana-1991 by dominating the premier speed events: the 100 in just 11.39 seconds and in the 200 she crossed the finish line in 23.11.

If we speak of double medalists in the same competition, middle-distance runner Adriana Muñoz took first place in the 800 and 1,500 meters, with 2:02.96 and 4:09.57 minutes, respectively, during the Santo Domingo-2003 meeting, something equally unprecedented, a feat she repeated in Guadalajara-2011.

Another extraordinary sprinter was three-time Olympic finalist Aliuska López, who crossed the finish line first from Havana-1991 to Winnipeg-1999 in the always temperamental 100 meter hurdles event.

NEVER BEFORE A CUBAN WOMAN…
As for the long-distance specialty, the title won by Mariela González in the marathon in Rio de Janeiro-2007 is not forgotten, with a time of 2:43:11 hours, when it seemed that her strength was not enough in the final kilometers of the race. Never before had a Cuban woman dominated the 42.195 kilometers.

And if power and exquisite technique are what matter, María Elena Sarría was a true force in shot put, with her three consecutive gold medals and a fourth silver in successive events from Mexico-1975 to Indianapolis-1987. Or Carmen Romero herself, owner and master of the discus in the versions of Cali-1971, Mexico-1975 and San Juan-1979.

Likewise, the "Fury of Agramonte" made the throwing circles her natural habitat. Yipsi Moreno, as a hammer thrower, was unstoppable between Santo Domingo-2003 and Guadalajara-2011.

If the women shone and demonstrated their enormous power, the men emulated them on countless occasions. During his time at these games, sprinter Leandro Peñalver accumulated six awards—two gold and four silver—; while the legendary Silvio Leonard reached five podiums thanks to his three titles and two silver medals, highlighting the double at San Juan-1979, in 100 and 200.

THE PRINCE OF THE HEIGHTS
Current outdoor and indoor world record holder, high jumper Javier Sotomayor crowned his "flights" in Indianapolis-1987 (2.32), Havana-1991 (2.35) and Mar del Plata-1995, and in this last venue he set a Pan American record of 2.40 meters.

Another exceptional athlete was Iván Pedroso, leader in Mar del Plata-1995, where he stretched to 8.50 meters, Winnipeg-1999 (8.52) and Santo Domingo-2003 (8.23).

Likewise, triple jumper Yoelbis Quesada surpassed all his opponents in Havana-1991, registering 17.06 meters, in Mar del Plata-1995, where he planted his feet at 17.67 and in Winnipeg-1999, with a mark of 17.19.

Javelin thrower Emeterio González triumphed in Mar del Plata-1995, where he threw 79.28 meters, Winnipeg-1999, with his 77.46, and Santo Domingo-2003, when the implement flew to 81.72.

A couple of curious details feature outstanding figures from the Cuban track and field: discus thrower Luis Mariano Delís and two-time Olympic champion Alberto Juantorena.

In Caracas-1983, Delís won the discus and shot put events, an unprecedented feat at these regional games. Juantorena, meanwhile, was unable to proclaim himself Pan American champion despite achieving five medals, four silver and one bronze, combining his attempts in the 400 meters, 800 and 4x400 relays.

Cuban athletics has amassed 132 titles, 119 silver medals and 105 bronze medals at these continental competitions for a total of 356, surpassed only by the United States (292-244-171-707).

The Greater Antilles dominated this sport at the Havana-1991, Mar del Plata-1995 and Guadalajara-2011 games, when it totaled 18 titles, being its best performances. Furthermore, Cuba led in Rio-2007, with 12 gold medals.

Source: History of the Pan American Games, by Enrique Montesinos Delvaty