On July 18 officials from the Cuban Olympic Committee announced the official 39-member national squad that will participate in track and field events at this year’s Olympics in Río.
In addition to the names of the 24 men and 15 women set to compete in Río, officials also announced the sports in which they will participate, an important detail as some will feature in more than one event and thus must focus their efforts on their strongest disciplines.
More exact predictions aside, as it stands, none of the delegation’s main athletes have won gold in international competitions this year, however the country’s youth representatives are already starting the IAAF World Junior Championships, July 19-24, with four global leaders in their respective divisions.
Nonetheless, the delegation includes athletes who have experienced the sweet taste of victory, continue to figure among the world elite of athletics and are highly respected by their opponents, such as World Champions Yarisley Silva (pole vault), Denia Caballero (discus), and World silver medalist triple jumper Pedro Pablo Pichardo, who remains a uncertainty having failed to compete this year, just like hurdler Dayron Robles, Beijing 2008 gold medalist.
THE CUBAN ATHLETICS OLYMPIC TEAM
MEN: Roberto Skyers and Reynier Mena, 200 and 4x100 m; Yoandys A. Lescay, 400 and 4x400 m; Richer Pérez, marathon; Dayron Robles, Yordan L. O´Farrill and Jhoanis C. Portilla, 110 m hurdles; José L. Gaspar, 400 hurdles and 4x400; Maykel D. Massó, long jump; Pedro P. Pichardo, Lázaro Martínez and Ernesto Revé, triple jump; Jorge Y. Fernández, discus; Roberto Janet, hammer throw; Leonel Suárez and Yordani García, decathlon; Yaniel Carrero, César Y. Ruíz, Reidis Ramos and Edel R. Amores, 4x100 m; Williams Collazo, Adrián Chacón, Osmaidel Pellicier and Leandro Zamora, 4x400 m.
WOMEN: Arialis J. Gandulla, 200 m; Rose M. Almanza, Sahily Diago and Lisneidy I. Veitía, 800 m; Dailín Belmonte, marathon; Zurian Hechavarría, 400 hurdles; Yarisley Silva, pole vault; Liadagmis Povea, triple jump; Yaniuvis López y Saily Viart, shot-put; Denia Caballero and Yaimé Pérez, discus; Yirisleydi L. Ford, hammer throw; Yulenmis Aguilar javelin; and Yorgelis Rodríguez, heptathlon.
IAAF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Cuba’s best athletes under the age of 20, set to compete this Tuesday, July 19, in the IAAF World Junior Championships Bydgoszcz 2016, include decathletes Santiago A. Ford, World silver medalist, and Rafael D. Noguera, fifth place, who will kick off phase on of their competition with the 100 meters event, followed by long jump, shot-put, high jump and 400m. Roxana Gómez (400m) and Arletys Thaureaux (800m) and Marisleisys Duarthe (javelin) are set to compete in the Group B heats.
