Héctor Milián Pérez

Outstanding Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler who gave the Cuban delegation the first of the 14 titles conquered at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games, thereby giving Cuba one of the brightest and most glorious pages in the history of the Olympics.

He was born in the town of Taco Taco (San Cristobal), Pinar del Río. Héctor's connection to sports perhaps received the indirect influence of his uncle Angel Milián, a disappeared heavyweight boxer who in the 1970s became the bitter rival of triple Olympic champion Teófilo Stevenson.

Just after turning eight years old, his physical qualities stood out among his classmates at the local primary school "Caridad Valverde" and the Physical Education teachers decided to try him in the throws.

However, some time later the coach Fernando Aranda was able to convince him to take up wrestling and he enrolled in the Ormani Arenado Llonch School for Sports Initiation (EIDE) in the province of Pinar del Río in the 1980-1981 school year.

Led by Lorenzo Echevarría, he competed in the 1984 National School Games in the Greco-Roman specialty and there caught the attention of coaches Silvio Mitchel and Alejo Morales, who promoted him to the School of Athletic Excellence (ESPA), a fact that gave a great boost to his career.

Now converted into a strong young man with a height of 1.96 meters, he conquered the youth world title in 1986 and from there went directly to the national pre-selection under the tutelage of the experienced Pedro Vals, who stated on one occasion: "Milián began with us at the beginning of 1987 and he was a young man with great aptitudes, but in need of intense learning work to polish him technically. In this sport strength must be combined with intelligence…"

The date of Tuesday, July 22, 1992 was permanently etched in the mind of the gladiator from Pinar del Río and for good reason. During the final match of the Greco-Roman modality, Héctor decisively prevailed over American Dennos Marvin Koslowski in the 100-kilogram division.

Until that historic moment, his trajectory in the world of mats and holds had accumulated a long record of successes at the international level, among which were counted the pair of gold medals conquered at the editions of the Pan American Games corresponding to Indianapolis (1987) and Havana 1991. By the way, in the first of those competitions he also contested the top position against Koslowski. From his debut in the Catalan venue, the Caribbean wrestler displayed notable technical quality and the path through the bracket placed him at the opening against Sergei Demiachievitch, representative of the so-called Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), who a year earlier had won the world championship. Milián's victory eliminated a highly regarded opponent.

In the second match the bout against Senegalese Alioune Diouf presented greater setbacks and advancement to the semifinal he achieved with victory over the tireless Bulgarian Atanas Komshev, a man who did not give him a single moment of respite.

The fourth match was against German Andreas Steinbach and there he had to resort to all technical-tactical resources with the intention of scoring points without overexerting himself physically.

When the moment came, the dangerous blonde Koslowski, from Minnesota, came out determined to sell his defeat dearly, so from the first tactical action, in addition to the usual aggressiveness, he demonstrated impeccable technique in the holds.

As for Milián, he maintained the initiative the whole time and based on intelligence and speed he was able to control the muscular human mass and emerge victorious in the difficult confrontation.

In a subsequent press conference, the Cuban made a comparison of the two bouts held with the American and recalled: "The fight this time was much closer than in Indianapolis due to both fighters' interest in winning the Olympic gold. He is a great opponent and I will always remember this bout as one of the best of my life".

Throughout the 1993-1996 Olympic cycle things did not go very well due to serious injuries and difficulties maintaining himself at the maximum limit of 100 kilograms.

Such was the case that participation in the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games was pending a decision by the International Federation, because a sprain in his right knee did not allow him to participate in the continental Olympic qualifier held in Cali, Colombia. In reality, Héctor Milián was not the same as in Barcelona and the results speak for themselves. Although he attended this Olympic venue he did not win medals there.

At the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games he also could not reach the podium.

Results at Olympic Games

Barcelona (1992)

Won 1-0 against Sergei Demiachkevitch (EUN)
Won by disqualification against Alioune Diouf (SEN)
Won 8-2 against Aranas Komshev (BUL)
Won 10-4 against Andreas Steinbach (GER)
Won 2-1 against Dennis Koslowski (USA)

Atlanta (1996)

Won 12-0 against Colbie Bell (CAN)
Won 3-0 against Guiseppe Giunta (ITA)
Lost 2-0 to Andrezj Wronski (POL)
Lost 1-0 to Teymuraz Edisherashvili (RUS)

Sydney (2000)

Won 6-0 against Hallik Helger (EST)
Won 4-0 against Zhao Haillin (CHN)
Lost 4-0 to Dimitri Debelka (BLR)
Won 5-3 against Georgi Solddze (UCR)

Honors and Awards

For his notable results he was chosen as the wrestler of the twentieth century in Cuba.

Gold at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games (100 kilograms)
Gold at the World Championship in Varna 1991 (100 kg)
Silver at the World Championship in Tampere 1994 (130 kg)
Silver at the World Championship in Prague 1995 (100 kg)
Silver at the World Championship in Athens 1999 (130 kg)
Bronze at the World Championship in Poland 1997 (130 kg)
Gold at the Youth World Championship in Germany 1986 (90 kg)
Gold at the World Cup in Albany 1987 (90 kilograms)
Gold at the World Cup in Athens 1988 (90 kilograms)
Gold at the World Cup in Norway 1989 (90 kilograms)
Gold at the World Cup in Sweden 1990 (100 kilograms)
Gold at the World Cup in France 1992 (100 kilograms)
Silver at the World Cup in Colorado Springs 1995 (130 kilograms)
Silver at the World Cup in Colorado Springs 1996 (130 kilograms)
Gold at the Pan American Games in Indianapolis 1987 (100 kg)
Gold at the Pan American Games in Havana 1991 (100 kg)
Gold at the Pan American Games in Mar del Plata 1995 (130 kg)
Gold at the Pan American Games in Winnipeg 1999 (130 kg)
Gold at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Ponce 1993 (100 kg)
Gold at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Maracaibo 1998 (130 kg)

Other Recognition

He became the First Olympic Champion of Greco-Roman Wrestling from a Third World country.
He was awarded as Wrestler of the Year in the World in 1992 by the International Federation
Most outstanding athlete from Cuba in the years [[1991] and 1992.
Selected by the people among the 100 best Cuban athletes of the twentieth century.