Cuban Boxer Enmanuel Reyes Pla Secures Medal for Spain

Enmanuel Reyes Pla, the talented Cuban boxer representing Spain, has secured a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics after defeating Belgian fighter Schelstraete in the quarterfinals by unanimous decision. With this victory, Reyes Pla, one of the 21 Cubans competing under different flags in these Olympics, guarantees his place on the podium, although the color of the medal is yet to be determined.

The pugilist, known as "The Prophet," expressed his ambition to win at Roland Garros, inspired by the numerous triumphs of Rafael Nadal in that iconic venue. "I want to win at Roland Garros, where Rafa Nadal has won so many times," he declared after his inaugural match.

Reyes Pla's achievement adds to a remarkable day for Spanish sports, which started with the successes of Álvaro Martín and María Pérez in the heart of Paris. At the Parc des Expositions, Reyes Pla delivered an impressive morning performance for the Spanish delegation, securing a medal he had longed for since the 2020 Tokyo Games, where he was controversially eliminated in the quarterfinals by fellow Cuban Julio César la Cruz.

The competition bracket in Paris favored Reyes Pla, allowing him to avoid early encounters with major favorites. The early eliminations of La Cruz and Mouhiidine in their initial fights and Reyes Pla's decisive victories over Han and Schelstraete paved his way to the medal.

Reyes Pla dominated Schelstraete from the start, landing body shots and securing a clear victory in the first round (5-0). Although the jury didn't award him the second round entirely (3-2), the medal was nearly assured. In the final round, he controlled the fight, neutralizing the Belgian's attacks and guaranteeing his victory.

"Knowing when to rough up the fight and get close to the Belgian was key," explained the Havana-born pugilist. Enmanuel Reyes Pla, 31, is competing in his second Olympic Games. In Tokyo 2020, he finished fifth after being defeated by Julio César la Cruz.

"My aspirations in Paris focus on one goal: the gold medal if God allows," Reyes Pla said in an interview with CiberCuba. "I am preparing physically and mentally to be an Olympic champion; I am reaching my best form, following my coach's plan, and most importantly, enjoying the process," he affirmed.

Born in Havana on December 14, 1992, Reyes Pla emigrated from Cuba after becoming the national runner-up in 2016. Following an odyssey that took him through Moscow, Belarus, Germany, and Austria, and periods in prison for being illegal, he finally arrived in Spain, where he obtained citizenship and joined the Spanish Boxing Federation.

"I came to Spain because it has always treated my family well, and I wanted to defend its colors. They believed in me. I am not an Olympic athlete for the money, but for the glory of being a champion," he stated in 2020.

As Spain secures a boxing medal with a Cuban fighter, this sport, once emblematic in the Olympic Games, is experiencing its worst moment. Sports journalist Francis Romero explained that the island has had its worst Olympic boxing performance in Paris since 1968. Even in the first round, top representatives like La Cruz were eliminated. Out of five fighters, only three remain in the competition, whereas Cuba had never won fewer than four medals (London 2012) since Mexico 68, when they returned with two silver medals, Romero emphasized.