Cuban Hockey Players Who Left Their Teams in Chile Share Their New Lives

Cuban athletes Lázaro Tolón and Yunia Milanés, a couple both on and off the field, fled from their national hockey teams during sporting events in Chile last year. Today, they share their experiences of living in their new country.

The pair spoke to the Chilean newspaper La Tercera, discussing their sports careers in Cuba, their escape during the events, and their current life in Chile. Lázaro Tolón, from Sancti Spíritus, left the Cuban delegation that traveled to Chile for a preparation match ahead of the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador. He made his move before his teammates Yuri Brown from Havana and Yordanqui Méndez from Las Tunas also deserted the team.

As the national team's goalkeeper, Tolón narrated to La Tercera how he abandoned the team on May 19th, just after a final training session and lunch. “Fifteen minutes before the break ended, he told his coach he was going to the club reception to connect to wifi and speak to his family. He walked towards the door and once there, he decided to run,” the newspaper reported.

“When I arrived in Chile, what impressed me the most were the equipment, the courts, and the fact that all the young players at 18 years old had their own cars and went home without any issues. Those things still amaze me today,” Tolón shared.

Meanwhile, his girlfriend Yunia Milanés escaped from the Cuban delegation during the Pan American Games in Santiago. “From Cuba, I already had a plan... I left everything behind,” said Yunia, who was the captain of the national team. On the day of her escape, Tolón, hooded, waited for her outside the hotel. Upon seeing her, he ran towards her. That day, the couple reunited after six months apart.

Both have now resumed their lives in professions that have distanced them from their usual sport. However, there seems to be a glimmer of hope to return to hockey. According to La Tercera, the two players approached Diego Amoroso, the coach of the Chilean national hockey team and head coach of Universidad Católica. Amoroso saw them play and recognized their talent.

New Challenges and Opportunities

“Lázaro strikes me as someone with a lot of ambition, clarity, and maturity about what he wants, which was one of the things I liked the most about him. His level is truly surprising for his position as a goalkeeper,” Amoroso stated. However, he noted that Lázaro needs greater commitment. “I believe he has all the tools to play for the Chilean national team, but it is very challenging to defend colors other than those of your birth country. It’s a tough decision for any athlete,” he added.

Tolón played his first hockey match on April 2, 2024, nearly a year after arriving in Chile. His team won against Club Manquehue. “That feeling is priceless,” he declared.

Currently, Lázaro Tolón and Yunia Milanés live in a commune within the Chilean capital called Estación Central. There, they share an apartment with two other hockey players who also fled with them, Lismaris Gonzales and Yordankis Méndez. They have all applied for asylum from the Chilean government and are awaiting a response. However, they understand that these are lengthy processes, La Tercera confirms.

In the meantime, they continue with their life projects, which include holding onto their passion for sports and family reunification.