Cuban sprinter Miguelina Cobián Hechavarría passed away

December 2, 2019

The Olympic runner-up and award winner in other competitions was 78 years old and had fought against the disease that caused her death, reported the National Commission for Athletes' Care.

"Miguelina Cobián has died, may her heroic remains rest in peace," Alberto Juantorena reported this Sunday through his Facebook profile.

MOURNING accompanies Cuban sports due to the death of Miguelina Cobián Hechavarría, Olympic runner-up and multi-medalist in university and pan-american games.

Miguelina was "the most outstanding woman in the early years of Cuban athletics during the Revolution."

The member of the short relay, winner of Olympic silver in Mexico 1968, died in the early morning of Sunday, December 1st, in Havana.

Finalist in 100 meters at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 1964 and Mexico 1968, Miguelina also won a title, four second places and a bronze in the continental multi-sport competitions in Sao Paulo 1963 and Winnipeg 1967.

"Cerro Pelado made me grow, strive and contribute more. The odyssey at sea and the obstinacy of the counter-revolution besieging the athletes during the competition put us to the test," she told JIT in 2015, recalling the journey that took her to the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Juan 1966.

Her body was laid in repose at her home, located on Nueva Street, number 510 between Patrocinio and O'Farril, municipality of 10 de Octubre, and buried today Monday, December 2nd at 9:45 a.m. in the Pantheon of Cuban Sports, in Colón Cemetery.