Lázaro Arístides Betancourt, Pillar of Cuban Athletics, Dies

January 21, 2025

This Sunday, January 19, news broke of the death of Lázaro Arístides Betancourt Mella, a man who left his mark on the Cuban sports system through his passion for athletics. The pain multiplies in Cuban sports. The mourning extends because that emblematic figure of Cuban track and field, Lázaro Betancourt, has died.

Lázaro successfully overcame a cardiovascular event at the end of the year (he was hospitalized at the Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery) and was now in full form when a fall caused him a brain trauma that cost him his life. He died at "Hermanos Ameijeiras" Hospital.

Born in Matanzas 88 years ago, he stood out among the pioneers of the Sport of Kings on the Island, to which he dedicated his life after the triumph of the Revolution in 1959.

Thanks to his talent as a runner, he excelled in the 110-meter hurdles, a specialty in which he competed with the best in the world.

He won several medals at World University Games, as well as at regional and continental multisport events.

He attended the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games, an event in which the Island's track and field made history with the silver medal won by Enrique Figuerola.

Lázaro Betancourt was also part of the Cerro Pelado delegation and was one of the important figures in the years when the foundations were laid for a system that, based on mass practice, would consolidate great results at the universal level.

After closing his stage as a high-performance competitor, he dedicated himself to transmitting his knowledge as a coach of the elite team, before taking on the role of national commissioner. For many years he served as an advisor to the Cuban federation of that sport.

His knowledge made him a pillar for the preservation and dissemination of the history of athletics in Cuba and the world. He was part of the technical commission of the IAAF —now World Athletics— and received in 2003 the Veteran Button from that organization.

He was among the personalities honored in 2005 to the Hall of Fame of the Central American and Caribbean Athletics Confederation (Cacac), collaborated as co-author of several books dedicated to topics such as sports training and athletics statistics.

Regarding the sad news, the president of Inder, Osvaldo Vento Montiller, wrote on the social network X: "The death of Lázaro Arístides Betancourt Mella, icon of Cuban athletics, deeply hurts us."

And he added: "Beyond his achievements as a competitor, he leaves a pedagogical legacy marked by the love and dedication with which he undertook every task. Our condolences to his family and friends."

Also extending condolences are the members of the Cuban Athletics Federation, its national commission, JIT, and the entire Cuban sports system.

By family decision his body was cremated, and in coordination with Inder it has been decided to organize the funeral rites at the Panamerican Stadium, next Tuesday, January 21 starting at 10:00 a.m.