Miguel Díaz-Canel welcomed the final group of the Cuban delegation that participated in the Paris Olympics on Monday night. The leader walked hand-in-hand with Leonor, the mother of Mijaín López, who achieved his fifth gold medal in Olympic events.
"Her name is Leonor, just like Martí's mother. I felt proud and happy to walk her to the airplane steps so she could embrace her son, #Mijaín, the Cuban pentachampion crowned in #Paris2024," Díaz-Canel wrote on X this Tuesday.
"They, with the medals of dignity on their chests, are the best tribute to #Fidel's 98th anniversary and the greatest joy for a people, blocked and resource-deprived, whose passion for sports just inscribed another legend on the Olympic podiums of #Paris2024," he added in another post where he posed with the returning athletes.
Mijaín López and boxer Erislandy Álvarez, both winners of the only two gold medals the island claimed in the French capital, were the ones to descend from the plane carrying the Cuban flag.
Alongside Díaz-Canel at the airport were other high officials such as Esteban Lazo Hernández and Roberto Morales Ojeda, as well as the National Coordinator of the CDR, Gerardo Hernández.
Speaking on behalf of the athletes, Erislandy Álvarez expressed his gratitude for the support received from Cuba during their participation in the Games. He affirmed that, although the results were not everything they hoped for, they always competed with courage and the desire to make the Cuban people proud.
The welcoming remarks for the delegation were given by Vice Prime Minister Jorge Luis Perdomo Di Lella, who praised the Cuban athletes' performance in Paris, especially highlighting Mijaín López's achievement. Perdomo Di Lella stressed the need for a critical analysis of Cuban sports performance to strengthen the athlete training system in the country.
Finally, the delegation was celebrated with a tour through the streets of Havana, culminating in the La Piragua area.
Position 32 in the Medal Table
With the smallest delegation since Tokyo 1964, Cuba finished 32nd in the Olympic medal table, with a total of nine medals: two golds, one silver, and six bronze, marking the island's worst Olympic performance since Mexico 1968.
The outcome fell significantly short of the predictions from INDER and was far from what was achieved in Tokyo 2020, where Cuba ranked 14th thanks to seven golds, three silvers, and five bronzes.
Despite failing to meet collective goals, Díaz-Canel had posted a complacent message on X: "Congratulations, dear Paris 2024 medalists. Behind your triumphs, there are not great resources, but there is the enormous sacrifice of a people of athletes who have not stopped dreaming of Olympic glory. Like Mijaín, who touched it 5 times. His courage inspires."
However, this time the regime can boast that only one athlete left the delegation: rower Yariulvis Cobas, although a few days earlier, wrestler Ángel Pacheco and judoka Dayle Ojeda, who were assisting in training champions López and Idalys Ortiz, had also left.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Performance at Paris 2024
Here, we address some common questions regarding Cuba's performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics and the context surrounding it.
How did Cuba perform in the Paris 2024 Olympics?
Cuba finished 32nd in the medal table with a total of nine medals: two golds, one silver, and six bronze.
Who were the standout athletes for Cuba in Paris 2024?
Wrestler Mijaín López and boxer Erislandy Álvarez were the standout athletes, each winning a gold medal.
What challenges did the Cuban athletes face?
Cuban athletes faced significant challenges including limited resources and the ongoing economic blockade.
How did the Cuban government react to the Olympic results?
Despite the disappointing results, Díaz-Canel praised the athletes for their courage and dedication, highlighting the sacrifices made by the Cuban people.