Cuban triple jumper Andy Hechavarría, recently returned to Cuba from the Paris Olympics, has found himself in the spotlight after a viral post allegedly showed him selling the cell phone gifted to all athletes at the event.
In a Facebook group called Teléfonos Habana, Hechavarría was said to be selling the exclusive Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 for $900. "For sale, new in box, limited edition. Great price (900 USD). It's the one from the Olympic Games," read the post attributed to the athlete from Holguín.
The advertisement quickly garnered attention, with users reacting in various ways. Some questioned his decision, while others understood his need for extra income given the dire economic situation in Cuba, which even high-performance athletes cannot escape.
Hours later, amid the flurry of reactions—and possibly under pressure from government officials—Hechavarría denied in the comments section that he had posted the ad. "I woke up today to see multiple accounts posting that I sold or am selling the phone I received for participating in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. I want to say that this is all false. None of it is true. I still have my phone with me," the triple jumper wrote in a comment that has since been deleted along with the original post.
According to Hechavarría, a neighbor had hacked his account. "What happened was I sent pictures of the phone to a neighbor because he wanted to see it, and he had the audacity to post it as if it were me. He used my photo and everything. He must have hacked into my profile to steal my photos and information because none of those posts appear on my current account. I only found out about this through friends who called and sent me screenshots. But in short, don't believe any of it; it's all a hoax," Hechavarría added, making a quick retraction.
Although the sales post on Teléfonos Habana was removed and now shows the typical "content not available" message, at the time of this report, the advertisement is still up in the Facebook group Ventas de Iphone y Androide Holguín.
The question remains: Was it Andy Hechavarría or the hacker neighbor who posted the ad? Interestingly, both now-deleted and current posts link to a Facebook profile that appears to be Hechavarría's.
Hechavarría participated in the qualifying round for the triple jump at the Olympics, but his best jump of 16.70 meters did not earn him a spot in the final.
Amid the whirlwind of comments generated by the phone incident, the official profile Habana Noticias came to the athlete's defense. "In light of the recent comments on social media by uninformed users and haters looking for any excuse to attack Cuba, this time regarding the sale of the cell phone by triple jumper Andy Hechavarría and other Cuban athletes who have sold their medals to alleviate financial or other issues, we want to remind everyone that this practice is common among athletes worldwide, including in the United States," wrote the official source, listing four American athletes who sold their medals: Mark Wells (hockey), Vin Baker (basketball), Jerry Lucas (basketball), and Tommie Smith (track and field).
Habana Noticias could have further supported Hechavarría by pointing out that he is not the only athlete recently selling the exclusive phone. On platforms like eBay, similar phones are being auctioned. One listing asked for 3,200 Australian dollars, while others offered shipping from the United States, France, Great Britain, and Belgium.
Andy Hechavarría's Phone Sale Controversy: Key Questions Answered
In light of the recent controversy involving Andy Hechavarría and the alleged sale of his Olympic cell phone, here are some key questions and answers to clarify the situation.
Was Andy Hechavarría actually selling his Olympic phone?
No, Hechavarría denies selling the phone, claiming that a neighbor hacked his profile and posted the ad without his consent.
What did Hechavarría say about the incident?
Hechavarría stated that he sent photos of the phone to a neighbor who then posted the ad using his profile. He insists that he still has the phone and the post was not made by him.
How did the authorities and official media react?
The official profile Habana Noticias defended Hechavarría, stating that selling sports memorabilia is a common practice worldwide and not unique to Cuban athletes.