Ana Fidelia Quirós: My Children Are My Two Olympic Gold Medals (INTERVIEW)

Those who know me are aware of my long-standing friendship with the former runner Ana Fidelia Quirós, previously known as Quirot, as I remember her. Throughout my career, I fostered close bonds with Cuban athletes, but with Fidelia, there's always been something special. Born in the champion land of Palma Soriano in Santiago de Cuba, she has been one of my most frequent interviewees, and today is no exception.

What are you up to, Fide? Where are you?

You know I'm retired, but my family is still the Cuban athletics community. I help out with our Federation whenever I can. Personally, I'm married to Ricardo Rolle, the father of my children, an entrepreneurial Italian whom I've been with for 26 years. Thanks to God, I've found a wonderful man with whom I've built a family: my first daughter, Carla Fidelia, born on the day of the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, Cuba's Patron Saint, studied Classical Ballet and danced with the National Ballet of Cuba. Currently, she's in an Acting School in Spain; she's 24, studying and working. My younger son, Alberto, is 23. He studied intermediate accounting and is now studying Business Administration, despite his love for sports and having taken courses as a physical trainer. He currently lives with his father in Italy, and I split my time between there and Cuba because my mother is elderly, and although she is in good health, she's been around for many years.

Julita, my two children, whom you saw born at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Vedado, are my two Olympic gold medals. Do you want better medals?

I remember everything, my friend, even when you met Ricardo and fell madly in love. Haha, how could you forget? I met my husband in 1997 at ExpoCuba during the International Trade Fair held in November. We Cuban athletes were representing Adidas and were at the booth promoting the brand. He passed by, asked for my autograph, invited me for coffee, and suggested I visit his stand where he displayed his products. That's how we began to know each other, and we've been together for 26 years.

Early Beginnings and Career Highlights

Let’s walk through your life because we can never forget our beginnings. My beginnings trace back to October 1974 in my hometown Palma Soriano; like all kids, I started with the quadrathlon: baseball throw, high jump, long jump, and 60 meters sprint.

I was there and had the pleasure of talking to Juanchi, who told me you were a super active, mischievous child.

Hahaha. Juan Heredia Salazar, yes, Juanchi. I was a handful, Julita, honestly. I have fond memories of that time. From there, I built a solid foundation that helped me not only in sports but in life.

How did you get started?

In 1975, I had the chance to represent Cuba in an international event in Hungary, where I was the only Cuban to reach the podium. That earned me a spot at the Santiago EIDE Captain Orestes Acosta under Eusiquio Sarior, and from there, based on my results, I moved to the national ESPA in Havana.

Which coaches influenced you before Blas and Leandro?

I participated in many events and had many coaches, each trying to exploit my potential, my speed. One was Rodobaldo Díaz Lambarri, a former 400-meter runner; another was the great Irolán Echevarría as I also ran 100 meters. Clearly, I was slow at the start, so they switched my specialty until I met a man who was like a father, maestro Blas Beato Borges. I spent nearly 15 years under his guidance. With him, I achieved my best results: 1:54.44 in 800 meters and 49.61 in 400 meters. I won the Grand Prix five consecutive times in both distances, 400 and 800 meters, depending on the competitive year; the Grand Prix was like today's Diamond League. Imagine that! My track record from 1987 to 1991 placed me at the pinnacle of field and track globally: 39 consecutive races without losing led to being named the best athlete in the world by the IAFF in 1989. And all thanks to Blas. I owe him not only my athletic training but also my personal development; he was like a father who cared about everything, not just sports but my presence, manners, and studies. I owe the person I am today to Blas Beato.

You were the favorite in Barcelona '92. What happened?

A month before the Olympic Games started, I lost my guide, my dear Blas. He had been battling illness all year, which of course affected me; I was even injured and arrived in Barcelona not at 100% of my capabilities. But above all, his absence affected me deeply. Imagine, I had been with him from 1979 to 1992. He knew all my moves, what I thought, what I needed to do. Not having him during my preparation in Europe affected me more than the injury I sustained while training at high altitude in Mexico. I was impacted in my speed, which was my forte. Back then, I was the fastest runner because I ran 400 and 800 meters while others ran 800 and 1500. I was the fastest. That was my advantage. That’s why, although I was never happy, I was satisfied with myself for making it to the podium in third place with a good time of 1 minute 56.80 seconds.

When 1993 opened up for you away from the tracks due to your first pregnancy, your terrible accident happened.

Exactly. You better than anyone know what happened and how much suffering it caused my family and me. 38% of my body was affected by second and third-degree burns; it seemed impossible to return to sports. Even my life was at risk.

Of course, I remember. There were doubts and misunderstandings among outsiders who didn't believe, but you rose above it. Your sister and mother were key in your recovery, besides your extraordinary willpower.

Yes, Julita, I never doubted; I had positive thoughts about my recovery; I relied on the discipline Blas instilled in me, my faith, perseverance, and willpower, which worked miracles, if I can call it that. I returned to the tracks and not only came back but won. I leaned on Leandro Civil, who always had great confidence in me. Yes, I asked him, and he never doubted. Do you remember those evenings when Mercedes Álvarez and I ran after sunset at the Juan Abrantes University Stadium? Except for you and my family, few believed in me, in my ability to run again. To everyone, my sports career was over, and I wanted to prove that if I wanted to, I could. I didn't do it alone, of course: the support of Fidel, the knowledge of the doctors at the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, the support of my family and friends, and the intelligence of Leandro Civil, who designed a training program according to my real physical possibilities. I can't fail to mention Mayito (Dr. Mario Granda, then director of the Sports Medicine Institute, who sadly passed away), whose perseverance always pushed me; in every training, every consultation, every regenerative treatment... and we succeeded!

Without fully regaining the movement of her right arm, Ana Fidelia competed in the 1993 Central American and Caribbean Games in Ponce, where she came second behind the Surinamese Letitia Dresden, who was the most overlooked champion in the history of athletics as all media focused on the Cuban. After a year of reconstructive skin surgeries and when no one believed in her athletically, Ana Fidelia and her coach demanded to go to Europe and compete. 1995 was a World Championship year, and the Caribbean Storm wanted to test herself at the highest level. Many tried to stop her; as for me, I launched a media campaign supporting her decision.

Indeed, on July 25, 1995, I ran at the Monte Carlo meet and was narrowly defeated by Maria de Lourdes Mutola, the season's favorite. My time, below 1:57.50, earned me a spot at the World Championships. I knew I could, and I fulfilled my promise to myself and those who believed in me. In Gothenburg, I achieved that unforgettable feat: my first World Championship title with 1:56.11. That was my rebirth like a Phoenix. In that World Championship, the Mozambican had been disqualified for running outside the lane, and those who always sought the flaw claimed our victory was due to Mutola's absence. However, mouths were shut when two years later in Athens, the Caribbean Storm triumphed again, this time against the best runners on the planet, including Maria de Lourdes Mutola.

Do you remember that, Julita? No journalist except you approached me. Everyone was focused on Mutola, the Russian Yelena Afanasyeva... That's why when I won, I ignored them all. They got my statements because of you. That was a beautiful World Championship.

Between one World Championship and another, the Atlanta Olympic Games took place. As the world champion, Ana Fidelia was the favorite. In my Olympic journey, I missed my gold medal; you saw that I arrived in optimal form in Atlanta, but tactically things didn't go as Civil and I had planned. Things happen in a race; you set a strategy, and the other runners impose another, forcing you to change it, and in the effort to not fall behind, you get carried away. Fifteen days before the Olympics, during a training session with Marie-José Pérec, the French winner of the 400 meters, she was astonished because I did 1:20.53 in the 600 meters segment. That was less time than Masterkova (the champion in Atlanta) did, but well... I made a mistake and had to settle for silver. When I saw myself in fifth place in the last 120 meters, I had to open up almost to lane three to get the medal; you saw that I was boxed in.

Ana Fidelia Quirós has been the biggest winner of gold medals in the Central American and Caribbean Games. Was that the reason for attending Maracaibo 1998 despite not being physically well?

I went to the 1998 Central American and Caribbean Games in Maracaibo because I wanted to retire with another title, but it didn't work out; I was sick, and it didn't happen. That's when I said goodbye to high-level competition.

Ana Fidelia, the current situation of the Cuban Athletics Federation president, Alberto Juantorena, is very regrettable.

The athletics community has responded well, supporting our dear María Caridad Colón, who has taken over due to Alberto's illness. With her knowledge and prestige, María Caridad leads the Federation. We all deeply regret the precarious health condition of the double Olympic champion. These days, Alberto was awarded the Gold Collar by the World Council for his many years of presence in the organization that governs world athletics, as well as for his prestigious sports career. We all pray for his recovery.

Every time we talk, we think the conversation will be brief, but it never is. I'll wrap up by asking your opinion on the current state of Cuban athletics.

What do I think of current athletics?... I believe the talent is there; it's no secret that in recent years, Cuban sports have faced difficult times due to various shortages, there are no sports equipment, no recovery aids for athletes, no training bases, no funding. This can't be hidden because it's the reality, and on many occasions, we've spoken out, and it's known to athletes and coaches. But one thing that differs greatly from these deficiencies is that I don't see today's athletes with the same grit, discipline, or determination that we had. Despite our difficulties, we grew, we overcame. Today's athletes put other things first, which are important, I'm not saying they're not, but you also need to know that if you're sacrificing for many years to achieve a result, you can't throw it all away. I don't see a good willingness to sacrifice or interest in achieving a result. I believe athletes are not giving their all, beyond the deficiencies and difficulties that may exist.