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• 03 / 09 / 2010

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 Since Cuba's first participation in World Indoor Athletic Championships in 1985, many brilliant stories have been written by our leading figures.

Seven have climbed the top of the podium, led by high jumper Ivan Pedroso, who achieved 5 consecutive gold medals (1993-1995-1997-1999 and 2001).

Javier Sotomayor is another leading figure in this kind of events. He is owner of 4 gold medals (1989, 1993, 1995 and 1999), a silver medal in 1985, and the bronze medal in 1991. Moreover, he is still the world record holder 2.43 meters, achieved in
Budapest.

Another five Cubans: Andres Simon, Aliuska Lopez, Anier Garcia, Yoel Garcia, and Yargelis Savigne also know how to win in these competitions, where the track is much shorter (200 meters long) and athletes can only compete for 28 titles instead of
the 43 titles outdoors.

Simon won the 60 meter flat with 6.52 seconds in 1989, where Cuba shone with its third best historic performance with 2 titles, 1 silver medal, and 1 bronze medal. At that time, Simón was classified as one of the fastest runners at the start of a race.

Led by the gold medals of Aliuska López (1995) and Anier García (1997), the 60 meters hurdles has been one of those areas in track and field with best performances in terms of titles for Cuba. There have been also some silver medals—Anier (1999 and
2003), Dayron Robles (2006), Aliuska (1991) and Anay Tejeda (2008).

Triple jumpers, as usual, are the ones with higher numbers of titles in these kinds of competitions with 12. Yoel Garcia won in 1997 with 17.30 meters, while Savigne dominated with 15.05 meters in Valencia two years ago. Lázaro Betancourt, Lázaro
Balsinde, Jorge Alfredo Reyna, Yoelbi Quesada, Aliecer Urrutia, Yoandri Betanzos, and David Giralt have also achieved at least a medal.

Olympic runner-up in Athens 2004 Yumisleidis Cumbá had also an outstanding performance in shot put as well as sprinter Roberto Hernandez in 400 meters flat (1987) and Ivan Garcia 200 meters flat (1997), which extends to eight the disciplines in which Cuba has achieved at least some recognition.

The all-time 5th place of Cuba (14-13-11), only surpassed by the United States, Russia, Germany and the former Soviet Union, shows the performance exhibited by our athletes, who will try to achieve 4 medals in Doha, Qatar.

Source: Cubasi