Gustavo Rollé Fernández

Glory of Cuban sports. Retired freestyle wrestling athlete, he was a sports coach in this sport. He participated in 12 Olympic Games, 9 Pan American Games, 9 Central American and Caribbean Games and was a member of the Board of the International Wrestling Federation (FILA) until December 2012, he obtained all the recognitions of this sports organization, he was the first Cuban to receive the Gold Button, and in February 2012 he was awarded the distinction of Emeritus coach.

He began practicing wrestling in 1959 because the newspaper Revolución published a call and he went to the old Casino Deportivo, today Círculo Social Cristino Naranjo, where he took his first steps in this sport.

In 1962 he joined the national team, in 1963 he was selected to pursue sports studies at the Central Institute of Physical Education in Moscow, Russia.

who dedicated much of his life to the development of that discipline in Cuba.

After his competitive career was cut short by an injury, he held the position of head coach of the national freestyle team from 1965 to 1982, the note adds.

He then assumed the responsibility of being the president of the Cuban Wrestling Federation, a position he held until 2008.

Rolle Fernández served as director of National High Performance (1990-1995), president of the Pan American Wrestling Committee (1990-1995) and head of the Department of Science and Technology (1995-2012).

Furthermore, he was appointed member of the honorary board of the UWW in 2014, and among his actions for the benefit of that discipline in Cuba he created the Granma-Cerro Pelado International Tournament, an annual event held in Havana.

He created a beautiful family formed by his wife Bertha Isabel Llanio León and three children Gustavo, Jaime and Yudith, and four grandchildren (Gustavo, Gretel, Jaime and Dafne).

He retired on September 30, 2012, after his work was recognized by FILA and INDER. The ceremony was held on February 22, 2013 at the Coliseum of the Sports City, in commemoration of the 52nd anniversary of that sports organization.

Sports Activity
1959. He began in freestyle wrestling, at the old Casino Deportivo now Cristino Naranjo.
1962. He joined the pre-selection of the national freestyle wrestling team and competed in the I National Championship in Cuba and obtained the silver medal.
1963-1964. He studied at the Central Institute of Physical Education in Moscow, Russia.
1964. Wrestling professor at the Higher School of Physical Education.
1965-1982. Main coach of the national freestyle wrestling team, as he had a sports accident and could not continue competing.
Creator of the Cerro Pelado Granma Tournament in Cuba
1982-1990. National wrestling commissioner.
1982-2008. President of the Cuban Wrestling Federation.
1990-1995. President of the Pan American Wrestling Committee.
1990-2012. Member of the Board of the International Wrestling Federation. (Head of the Department of Science and Technology).
2000. Technical Director of Wrestling.
He has provided collaboration in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Guatemala.
He is the president of the Council of Science and Technological Innovation.
He has participated in 11 Olympic Games since 1968, nine Pan American Games, 9 Central American and Caribbean Games, in more than 60 world championships of freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman and women's wrestling.
2011
Organization of the XLIII International Cerro Pelado-Granma Wrestling Tournament, where 18 countries participated.
Technical Director at the Pan American Wrestling Championship in Río Negro. Colombia.
Participates in the V ALBA Sports Games, invited to give a series of lectures.
Appointed Technical Director of Wrestling for the 2011 Guadalajara Pan American Games
2012
2012. Participated in the FILA Board Meeting, in Krasnoyarsk. Russia.
Received recognition from FILA as Emeritus coach.
Appointed as Technical Director of the Pan American Youth Championship, held in June, in Petén. Guatemala.
Appointed as Technical Director of the Pan American Cadets Championship, held in July, in Maracaibo. Venezuela.
Appointed as member of the FILA Board to participate in the 2012 London Olympic Games.
2013
Proposed for the Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Teaching Activity
1964-1965. Professor at the School of Physical Education (ESEF).
He taught Olympic solidarity courses.
Recognition
In February 2012 he was awarded the distinction of Emeritus coach.
In 2012 he was proposed as an honorary member of FILA, as well as proposed to join the Hall of Fame.
His official retirement was recognized in a ceremony for the 52nd anniversary of INDER held at the Coliseum of the Sports City, and he was awarded a certificate of recognition for being a founder of that organization.