Pedro Luis Fernández Gamboa, originally from Cuba, stands as Puerto Rico's great hope for the sailing event at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Although Cuba failed to qualify any athletes in this discipline, the young sailor, born on June 12, 1997, in Havana, will compete under the Puerto Rican flag, joining 20 other athletes representing different countries at the Olympic Games.
Pedro Luis Fernández Jr. will race on Sunday, July 28, for Puerto Rico, a country he moved to in 2008 along with his father. Since then, he has developed his entire sports career there. This talented sailor has participated in World Cups in Miami (United States) and Melbourne (Australia). Additionally, he was the flag bearer for Puerto Rico at the first Central American and Caribbean Beach Games in Santa Marta, Colombia, in 2022, where he won a silver medal. This year, he also competed in the regional multi-sport event in El Salvador.
Pedro arrived at the Island of Enchantment in 2008 with his father and coach, also named Pedro Luis Fernández, who was part of the Cuban sailing team for many years. A total of 21 Cuban athletes will represent other delegations at the Paris 2024 Olympics, highlighting the unstoppable exodus of athletes in recent years. Thirteen nations will benefit from the talent of those born in Cuba, while two athletes have been selected to join the Refugee Team: canoeist Fernando Dayán Jorge and weightlifter Ramiro Mora.
Puerto Rico's delegation will include Cuban basketball player Ismael Romero and sailor Pedro Luis Fernández Jr. Meanwhile, Cuba will present its smallest group since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, with only 62 athletes, although they aim for five titles and hope to be among the top 20 nations on the general table, according to the authorities of the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (INDER).
The Paris 2024 Olympics were inaugurated on Friday and will conclude on August 11, featuring around 10,500 athletes from more than 200 National Olympic Committees.
Pedro Luis Fernández Jr. and the Paris 2024 Olympics
The following questions and answers provide additional insights into Pedro Luis Fernández Jr.'s journey and the broader context of Cuban athletes competing under different flags at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Why is Pedro Luis Fernández Jr. competing for Puerto Rico and not Cuba?
Pedro Luis Fernández Jr. moved to Puerto Rico in 2008 with his father and has since developed his sailing career there. Cuba did not qualify any athletes for the sailing events at Paris 2024.
How many Cuban athletes are competing for other countries at Paris 2024?
A total of 21 Cuban athletes will represent different countries at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
What are Cuba's goals for the Paris 2024 Olympics?
Cuba aims to win five titles and finish among the top 20 nations on the general table, despite having its smallest delegation since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.