Anier Octavio García Ortiz

Born in the city of Santiago de Cuba, Anier Octavio García Ortiz arrived at the Sydney, Australia Games (2000), determined not to respect either names or men and he fulfilled it that way.

On September 25, 2000, he registered exactly 13 seconds in the final of the 110 meters with hurdles, leaving well behind the ranked Americans Terence Trammell (13.16), Mark Crear (13.22) and Allen Johnson (13.23), in addition to the world record holder in the specialty, British Colin Jackson, who had to settle for a modest fifth place (13.28).

The history of Anier on the track began very early in his native province and equally arrived the first triumphs in the National School Sports Games (1990).

As an interesting detail we can point out that the first steps within the school category saw him grow alongside his mother Bárbara Ortiz, at that time a professor of the discipline at the Sports Initiation School (EIDE) in Santiago.

For him those moments hold a special significance, because perhaps it is the only case in Cuba and maybe in the world, but if something was left pending due to said influence was that he never tried his luck in the 100 meters flat.

Endowed with excellent physical qualities, after meeting the requirements of the school category, as a practitioner of multiple events, he was definitely chosen to face the challenge of the 10 hurdles at the distance of 110 meters flat.

By sheer willpower, he also overcame the demands of the coaches until reaching the national pre-selection. The most direct antecedents came from one of the greats, Alejandro Casañas, double silver medalist in Montreal, Canada (1976), and Moscow, Soviet Union (1980).

When the moment of truth arrived on the Australian track, Anier showed complete confidence in victory, although the responsibility he had to face was known. He had to take advantage of it and concentrated on doing it well to win, without the slightest setback.

Hours before the test, coach Santiago Antúnez explained to reporters: "Anier García could be Cuba's big surprise in these Olympic Games, because he doesn't suffer from any kind of pressure. Very few of us expected gold from him, that's why he feels much freer".

The young man came through successfully in the heats and semifinals, something that immediately caught the attention of specialists. He was also not disturbed by the indication of a false start, but when the moment of truth arrived none of his rivals could keep up with him.

"I knew I was going to beat them all, I knew it," he repeated unable to contain his joy. And it was no wonder, because Anier García ran the best race of his life by surpassing his personal mark by seven hundredths of a second. "I am an Olympic champion for the last five minutes," he concluded before leaving the track to head to the locker room.

Among Anier's main qualities, according to Antúnez, stand out his physical strength, capable of combining it with almost millimetric precision when facing each of the 10 obstacles along the course.

He never paid attention to the names of his adversaries, because for him each race was a duel against himself, because he was capable of setting his own objectives. In short, he didn't like to lose.

The possibility of qualifying for the final in Sydney allowed him to rub shoulders as equals with everything that was worth and shining at the close of the last millennium, although at the same time some specialists considered him a true surprise.
Those who wrote about it that way were completely unaware of his athletic credentials, after reaching second place at the World Championships in Seville, Spain (1999), although also in an indoor world championship in Paris, France (1997) he crossed the finish line first.

Among the presumed rivals, one of them, Allen Johnson, knew him very well, because they faced each other four times and on three occasions he was defeated by the islander in different scenarios.

There was no room for coincidences, because in Sydney the best won across the board…

Main Results and Recognition

Among Anier's main qualities, according to Antúnez, stand out: the discipline in setting concrete objectives, as well as physical strength, capable of combining it with almost millimetric precision when facing each of the 10 obstacles along the course, he is an athlete who doesn't like to lose. Among the main sports results and recognition are:

1994 joins the national team, participating in several national competitions, where he obtains first places.
The first international result dates back to 1994, when he finished fifth in the World Junior Athletics Championship held in Portugal.
In 1995 he was crowned Pan American champion under-19 years.
In 1996 he led the Ibero-American competition and reached the semifinals at the Olympic Games in Atlanta.
World Championships in 60 meters with indoor hurdles in Paris on March 9, 1997 on his birthday he obtains gold medal and silver in Seville, Spain in 1999.
Winner in two Pan American Games in 1995 and 1999 in Winnipeg.
Champion of the Central American and Caribbean Games in Maracaibo in 1998.
September 5, 2000 gold at the Sydney Olympic Games, runs in lane 3 and beats the 2 best American athletes in the world at that time.
2001 Silver at the Goodwill Games in Stockholm Canada.
2004. Wins bronze medal at the Athens Olympics, with a time of 13.20.
He is considered a Glory of Cuban Sports for the achievements obtained during his athletic career.
He is selected among the most outstanding athletes of 2004 and among the 100 best of the 20th century
Anier's Opinions

Anier expressed in the television interview of the program Confessions of the Great held on July 29, 2010 by journalist Aurelio Prieto Alemán, the following:

He defines himself as a communicative and simple person, as well as 100% from Santiago.
The achievement throughout his career is due to the help of his family, coach Santiago Antunez Contreras, whom he considers as a father, the collective of masseurs, sports doctors (especially Dr. Anillo), psychologists and other specialists and technical staff in general.
He fulfilled the promise made by his mother to go to the Sanctuary of El Cobre and offer to the Patroness of Cuba, the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre some sneakers, a shirt and shorts.
He had the custom of rewarding the public when he won with some garment, whether it was a sneaker or a shirt.
The athletes he most admires are: Ana Fidelia Quirot, with whom he shared several international competitions and Javier Sotomayor who is his idol and personal friend.
Already at the Athens 2004 Games, he had to make a great effort, as he had just recovered from a muscle injury, but despite not having had a good start he achieves the bronze medal with a time of 13.20.
He thanks the people of Cuba for following him and encouraging him throughout his athletic career.
Retirement from Active Sport

He retires from active sport in 2007 due to suffering from an injury, but continues to help with accumulated experience the new generations as a coach.