Alan Ernesto Vera García, a wrestler originally from Santiago de Cuba, who made history as the first Cuban to win a U.S. national championship in Greco-Roman wrestling, passed away Monday night at the age of 33.
A fundraising appeal to support Alan's family, especially his wife and their baby who is just under three months old, indicated that the Cuban-American athlete suffered a cardiac arrest days earlier while playing soccer. According to Milena Ujkic Wick, who shared a condolence note on X, Alan fought for his life for eight weeks in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at a hospital in New Jersey.
Alan Vera's Wrestling Achievements
Alan's accomplishments in wrestling are a testament to his immense talent and dedication. He was a runner-up in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials (Paris 2024) and achieved significant success as a two-time medalist at the Pan-American Championships and an international champion at the 2019 Dave Schultz Memorial. However, his love and care for Elena and their baby Alina truly set him apart, as highlighted on the Gofundme platform.
The news of Alan's passing has elicited various reactions. He leaves behind his parents, brother, wife, and young daughter. In the Facebook group "Friends of Cuban and Worldwide Wrestling," user Alejandro Sala reminisced about Alan's journey as "the first Cuban to arrive in the U.S. and become a national champion."
Community's Reaction to the Tragic Loss
Jenna Rose Burkert, an American freestyle wrestler, expressed her sorrow over the loss. "My heart breaks to learn about the passing of Alan Vera. It is truly a tragic loss, and my thoughts are with his entire family during this incredibly challenging time. Sending prayers and love to everyone who knew him. Rest in peace, Alan. You will be missed but never forgotten," wrote the world medalist in the 55 kg category.
The Cuban-American athlete boasted an impressive record, including a gold medal at the 2016 Pan-American Championship and a bronze at the 2015 Pan-American Games. He defected from the Cuban delegation in early 2016 in Texas, after winning the Pan-American Championship and just a day before competing in the continental pre-Olympic tournament for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. As a result, Cuban authorities barred him from traveling to the island to reunite with his family until 2024.
Personal Life and Defection
"The decision [to defect] is always tough, difficult, especially when thinking about family," Vera told Around The Rings. "But for a moment, I reflected on my past experiences in Cuba, and my emotions led me to make that decision for my present and future," he added.
In October 2016, months after his defection, Alan Vera married Elena Pirozhkova, a wrestler born in Russia and raised in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Pirozhkova has won three world medals in addition to her 2012 gold and represented the United States at the London and Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The couple met in 2014 when Pirozhkova traveled to Havana for an international tournament.