Havana, August 12 (RHC) The first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel this Friday wished a speedy recovery to the glory of sport, Alberto Juantorena, double champion in the 400 and 800 meters flat at the Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, 1976.

On his Twitter account, the dignitary recalled that 40 years ago, when this athlete “with his heart” and his legs shook the country with two gold medals under the five rings, he repeated the feat at Havana 1982.

“Today he and the doctors are fighting for their lives and Cuba hopes they will succeed as well. Salud champion”, wrote the head of state on this social network.

40 years ago, when Alberto Juantorena “with his heart” and his legs, shook #Cuba with two Olympic titles, he repeated the feat at Habana’82. Today, he and the doctors are fighting for his life and #Cuba hope they succeed too. Health champion. pic.twitter.com/eUwVeV9SIw

— Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) August 13, 2022

Juantorena, nicknamed the elegant of the tracks, after completing the double in the 800 and 400 meters in Canada’s largest city just three days apart, repeatedly dedicated her victory to the Cuban Revolution and Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro (1926-2016).

Then, on August 12, 1982, at the Central American Games in Havana, with the presence of the Cuban leader, in the final race of the 4 × 400 meter relay, he received the change late, recovered the advantage taken by the Jamaican quartet and won.

Questioned by the press, he dedicated the gold medal as a gift to President Fidel Castro, on the eve of his birthday.

In addition to his brilliant sports career, Juantorena obtained a degree in economics from the University of Havana and, thanks to his knowledge of sport and his prestige, he became vice-president of the Cuban Sports Institute.

In 2003, he was inducted into the Central American and Caribbean Athletics Confederation Hall of Fame, while in 2012 when the International Athletics Federation Hall of Fame was instituted, he was recognized among its 24 members. .

He is currently president of the Cuban Athletics Federation. (Character font: PL)