Canoeist Fernando Dayán Jorge saved two Cubans during the crossing of the Rio Bravo

April 12, 2022

Fernando Dayán Jorge Enríquez, the Cuban Olympic champion canoeist, has gone viral due to the testimony of two other nationals who crossed the Rio Bravo with him.

The 23-year-old athlete was interviewed on the América Tevé channel about his difficult entry into the United States, but the video served for a Cuban couple to testify to a feat that the young man did not mention.

Cuban Lisandra Rondón Lara commented on the interview video with her own confession: "apart from being a great athlete, he is a hero, my husband and I will always be grateful to him because today I am alive thanks to the fact that he practically saved my life in the Rio Bravo"

Rondón Lara recounted that Fernando Dayán "had patience despite the fact that his life was also in danger" and she says "he helped me in a terrible moment, he didn't hesitate, he didn't panic, I will always be grateful to you! You saved my life, thank you for helping me, I wish that all your goals come true and that God always accompanies you, champion, thank you".

In the same publication made on Youtube, another Cuban who identified himself as the husband of the rescued woman confirmed the facts.

Daylor Vázquez wrote "this boy, apart from being a good athlete, we crossed the Rio together and he saved my wife's life, he never abandoned us. A big hug brother, here you have some brothers forever".

The young man attended the América Tevé interview and revealed the moments of his escape from the tight surveillance of State security officials.

"It was very difficult, at a moment when they took their eyes off me, I ran," he revealed.

The athlete also admitted that due to the lack of certain documents, he has faced problems in making his legal process in the United States and being able to practice the sport that he loves so much. However, the channel offered to help him contact lawyers who could guide him through those cumbersome procedures.

Fernando Dayán Jorge Enríquez is the youngest Olympic champion canoeist in the history of that sport in Cuba and is in fact the first gold medal of that sport in an Olympic event for the island.

Jorge Enríquez entered the US in mid-March, after leaving a Cuban team training camp in Mexico at the beginning of that same month.

He, along with kayaker Fidel Vargas, spent almost two weeks in Mexican territory, and then both moved to the border with the US.

During that time, they even shared a bunker with 20 other people, according to the sports media Swing Completo.

Fernando Dayán has accumulated a brilliant record in sports at just 23 years old with six World Championship medals, four silver and two bronze in the C1 5000 m and C2 1000 m categories. He has also won the Pan American title in the C2 1000 m and the silver medal in the C1 1000 m at the Lima 2019 event. His most notable achievement is, without a doubt, the Olympic gold he achieved in the C2 1000 m with Serguey Torres at Tokyo 2020.