Sigfredo Bandera, Master of Great Triple Jumpers, Dies at 75

January 3, 2024

The Cuban Sports System and especially the athletics family mourn today the death, at 75 years of age, of the renowned triple jump coach Sigfredo Bandera, trainer of several Olympic and world medalists.

Bandera established himself, for more than four decades, as a reference among the trainers of the King of Sports on the Island, a period in which he led Yoelbi Quesada to the conquest of the bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Through his hands passed other important exponents of the discipline, among them Alexis Copello, Yoel García and Enrique Cepeda, Paralympic champion in Barcelona 1992 and Sydney 2000.

Bandera was born in Santiago de Cuba and from a young age was linked to the practice of athletics, in the pole vault specialty. His experience and knowledge also contributed to the training and improvement of the new generation of coaches, many of them in the technical staff of the current national team.

"I would always go back to dedicate myself to athletics and triple jump, because I love being a coach, I am a fulfilled man and it pleases me when they treat me with respect because they recognize what I have done. Being a coach generates tremendous gratitude," he commented in an interview granted to JIT several years ago.

May the heartfelt condolences of sports followers reach his family and friends, proud to have had him among the great athletics coaches in the country.