Pedro Damián Pérez Dueñas

Cuban athlete, world record holder in triple jump at the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, with a mark of 17.40 meters.

He was born in Pinar del Río. In his childhood he practiced several sports, mainly basketball and volleyball. In 1967 he represented his province at the National School Sports Games, in which his teachers registered him in the high jump and long jump specialties. The games organizing committee did not authorize him to compete in long jump, and he registered in triple jump, a specialty for which there were still some vacancies. He achieved first place, and from then on he began systematic practice of that specialty.

He later entered the Superior School of Athletic Development (ESPA), under the guidance of Soviet coach Leonid Chervakov—a former world record holder and runner-up at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games—whose teachings were of great benefit to the young Cuban triple jumper.

On January 10, 1970, Pérez Dueñas established the first of his three juvenile world records, with a mark of 16.38 meters, which was also an absolute Cuban record. That same year he made his debut in international competitions at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Panama, where he won the gold medal with a mark of 16.33 meters.

In 1971, at the VI Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia, although he was not the favorite for the gold medal, he achieved a mark of 16.92 meters on his first jump, despite a slight slip, and in the finals he reached the surprising record of 17.40 meters, a world record in triple jump. With that mark he also became the first athlete to set a world record at Pan American Games.

With the world record in his possession, he prepared carefully, participating in several athletics competitions, for the Olympic Games the following year in Munich. Once the competitions began, Pérez Dueñas suffered an injury to one of his legs during the qualification phase, which prevented him from continuing in the competition. He finally placed in twenty-fourth place with a modest jump of 15.72 meters.

During 1973 he was barely able to compete internationally, much less achieve notable results. A year later, however, already in peak condition, he was part of the Cuban athletics delegation at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. He then repeated the victory from four years earlier with a mark of 17.1 meters. Pedro Pérez Dueñas' world record remained valid for more than four years until October 15, 1975. On that date, Brazilian Joao Carlos de Oliveira achieved a mark of 17.89 meters for a new world record. The feat occurred during the athletics competitions of the Pan American Games in Mexico City, an event which Pérez Dueñas had not attended because he was injured.

During the 1976 Olympic Games in the Canadian city of Montreal, Pérez Dueñas, who had taken great care with his physical preparation, suffered another injury to his leg, which once again prevented him from competing for top places. He finished in fourth place with a jump of 16.81 meters.

In the mid-1970s he began studying Medicine, simultaneously continuing his athletic activity. He graduated as a physician in 1980 and subsequently specialized in sports medicine.

His academic obligations and the constant injuries for which he underwent surgical interventions on both knees influenced his decision to retire in 1978.

Since his official retirement, he has worked as a sports medicine specialist within the National Institute of Physical Education and Sports (INDER) of his country. Additionally, he has responsibilities with the Cuban Athletics Federation.