Like Leonor to Mijaín, last night, at the foot of the stairs of the plane; like a mother to her children returning from a long journey, the Homeland embraced its champions, on the return from that three-year journey that was this peculiar Olympic cycle, crowned in Paris.
Just as the 130 kilograms of the only male champion in five consecutive Olympics were placed in his mother's chest and in a kiss, the athletes who made the heart of the nation vibrate also fit in the lap of their people.
Although the red carpet was laid out for them in a nearby place, authorities of this Caribbean island went with the mother of the greatest champion, Mijaín López, to offer them a welcoming embrace at the foot of the aircraft, because when you return with so much glory, you don't wait in the distance, you go to meet the winners.
President Díaz-Canel was there with Leonor; the head of the Parliament, Esteban Lazo; Morales Ojeda, Secretary of Party Organization, and other top leaders; the first among thousands of Cubans who, in several sections of the journey, from the airport to Havana's La Piragua square, spent a night at the side of the street to wait for their athletes, to greet them, to tell them: thank you.
That this would be the case was already a certainty: "The Cuban people welcome you with open arms. You competed with dignity and adherence to the values of Cuban sport, inspired by Fidel," said Jorge Luis Perdomo Di-Lella, deputy prime minister, speaking at the official welcoming ceremony.
And even if some end here, it will never be the end when a milestone means the beginning for others. Mijaín told Granma last night: "I did my part, now it is time for others to assume their leading role."
There will be new champions, and there are those who will continue to be so, who continue, like the incumbent Erislandy Alvarez: "More of my achievements will come, because my boxing continues to grow."
Although eternal nonconformists -because being so is a revolutionary condition of those who want to be better and better, and aspire to more in everything, like the athletic spirit-, Cuba had a party last night, and celebrated its champions... and Fidel.
