Enmanuel Reyes Sets Sights on Olympic Gold in Paris

Without yet having reached the top of the podium for Spain, his adopted country, Cuban boxer Enmanuel Reyes has shown he can dream of winning an Olympic medal in Paris. Silver in the European Championship in Armenia 2022, bronze at the World Championship in Belgrade 2021, and third place in the European Games in Krakow, Poland 2023, all serve as seeds for the Cuban's legitimate aspiration.

"My aspirations in Paris are centered on one goal: the gold medal, if God allows it. I finished fifth in Tokyo, also competing for Spain. Now, I am preparing physically and mentally to be an Olympic champion; I am getting into my best shape, following my coach's plans, and most importantly, enjoying the process."

Leaving Cuba: A Journey Towards a Dream

When asked about his departure from Cuba and if he was part of the high-performance training program, Enmanuel responded, "Yes, I was part of the high-performance pyramid. I left Cuba after what would be my last Playa Girón tournament, held in Santiago de Cuba, where I 'lost' in the final to Erislandi Savón. That was in 2016, and it convinced me that I would never be given the opportunity to be great, regardless of positive results."

"I had the skills, but as always, the established athletes never get removed… even if you win! This happens with all Cuban athletes, not just in boxing but in all sports. How many emigrated and are now stars on this side? That's why I left. I initially aimed for Belarus to cross the border to Poland, but things went wrong, and I had to return to Moscow. After a few weeks, I managed to get a flight with a layover in a European country, so I took one with a stop in Austria."

"There, I applied for asylum and was transferred to a refugee camp. I started crossing borders, and in Germany, I was detained for two months for not having documents. Once released, I returned to Austria and managed to fly to Spain, arriving in Galicia, where my entire family resides."

"What a story, Enmanuel! The hardships a Cuban faces without needing to are incredible. Upon reaching Spain, I contacted the Spanish national team, and coach Rafa Lozano invited me to Madrid to meet. From there, I never left the national team, and I am very grateful for the trust placed in me."

"I completed all the procedures to become a Spanish citizen and am thankful to this great country for allowing me to represent it and for welcoming me as one of their own. So, a year before the Tokyo Olympics, I started competing as a Spaniard. Initially, my coaches here were Rafa Lozano and Carlos Peñate, and now, Rafa Lozano, Ernesto Aroche, and Esteban Cuéllar, the latter two being Cuban."

Boxing Education: Cuban vs. European Styles

When asked about the differences between Cuban and European boxing schools and how the Cuban school helped his career, Enmanuel explained, "The Cuban style involves more movement; the European style is more static, focusing on strength and power. The Cuban school helped me a lot in my comprehensive training because I've combined that leg movement with the power of the European school. My coaches have wisely blended both preparation systems."

From a Peaceful Childhood to Boxing Stardom

Enmanuel reminisced about his childhood and early boxing years, "I had a peaceful, happy childhood. My parents provided the basics for my siblings and me to be well and live decently, and I thank God for that. I am from San Miguel del Padrón, my beloved neighborhood. I took my first steps in Juanelo, where my paternal grandmother lived; then moved to my maternal grandmother's house, all within San Miguel del Padrón."

"I was introduced to boxing by Guillermo Santín, who taught me what boxing is. I will always be grateful to him for guiding me into this great sport. My first gym was the well-known Paco Paco, which produced great boxers, and I am proud to have come from there."

"I transitioned through high-performance training, first at the EIDE, where I was coached by Richard Vaillant de Armas and Santiago Suárez. At CEART, as part of the youth squad, I was a disciple of Maikro Romero, Ernesto Aroche, and Esteban Cuéllar, the latter two are currently my coaches in Spain."

"I also trained at the Havana boxing academy, where my instructors were Julio César Rodríguez, Alberto Pérez, Alberto Brea, and Ernesto Machín. At the national team’s Finca, I was under the guidance of Juan Hernández Sierra, all of whom are great coaches."

Rivalry with Julio César la Cruz

Discussing his bouts with double Olympic champion Julio César la Cruz, Enmanuel said, "From my performances in the Playa Girón tournaments (two silver medals and two bronze) and the Cardín tournaments (one second place and one gold medal), my main rival has always been Julio César la Cruz. It's a rivalry that spans years. As a boxer, he's good, I would say a great boxer; as a person, I have no relationship with him. Courtesy towards him, out of respect taught by my parents, but that's it. The rivalry was evident in Tokyo."

"What happened in Tokyo and what can happen now in Paris? In Tokyo, I was a different Enmanuel. Now, I am prepared to win; neither la Cruz nor any other boxer keeps me awake at night. For me, my biggest rival is myself. He is just another opponent I face. With this conviction, and if you permit me, I want to send a greeting, a tight hug to my people of San Miguel and Juanelo, my best friends, who are always on my mind. My victory will also be for them."