Biography
Started: She took up athletics in 1998 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba (WOWOW official YouTube channel, 21 Aug 2019; Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)
Reason: Her talent was spotted by one of her physical education teachers. "I must thank my physical education teacher, who was the one who realised that I had ability and made me begin this sport." (WOWOW official YouTube channel, 21 Aug 2019; cubahora.cu, 14 Mar 2020)
Ambition: To win three gold medals at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (paralympic.org, 05 Mar 2024)
Milestones: She claimed three gold medals at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo to take her total number of Paralympic gold medals to eight, more than any other Cuban athlete at the Paralympic Games. She also holds the same distinction at the world championships with 12 gold medals. She achieved a further two first-place finishes at the world championships in 2017, but medals were not awarded for either event. (SportsDeskOnline, 29 May 2024)
Awards: She and fellow athletics competitor Robiel Yankiel Sol Cervantes were Cuba's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. She carried out the same role at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games, as well as at the opening ceremony of the 2023 Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile, and the closing ceremony of the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto, ON, Canada. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024; deportes.terra.com.co, 02 Aug 2016; paralympic.org, 15 Aug 2015, 29 Aug 2012; cadenagramonte.cu, 27 Sep 2023)
In 2023 she was named Female Para Athlete of the Year in Santiago de Cuba province in Cuba. (sierramaestra.cu, 22 Dec 2023)
In 2019 and 2021 she was named the Para Athlete of the Year in Cuba. In 2023 she was named Best Female Para Athlete of the Year in Cuba. (cubadebate.cu, 20 Dec 2019; jit.cu, 15 Dec 2021; radiocamaguey.icrt.cu, 19 Dec 2023)
In 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2019 she was named Best Paralympic Sports Athlete in Cuba by the Cuban Sports Institute [INDER]. (cibercuba.com, 10 Dec 2019; anguardia.cu, 11 Dec 2017; pionero.cu, 17 Aug 2017; granma.cu, 07 Dec 2015; jit.cu, 08 Dec 2015)
She cast prints of her hands in concrete at a ceremony at the 2019 Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru. The prints were to be placed at the VIDENA Athletics Stadium Walk of Fame in Lima. (paralympic.org, 23 Aug 2019)
In 2012, 2015, and 2017 she was named Best Paralympic Sports Athlete in Cuba by the Cuban sports journalists association. (vanguardia.cu, 11 Dec 2017; pionero.cu, 17 Aug 2017; granma.cu, 07 Dec 2015; jit.cu, 08 Dec 2015)
She was named Best Sportswoman of the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro by the International Paralympic Committee [IPC]. (cibercuba.com, 07 Sep 2017)
She was presented with the 2016 Juan Antonio Samaranch IOC Para Athlete Award by the United States Sports Academy. (paralympic.org, 21 Apr 2017)
Additional Info: RETIREMENT PLANS
She expects to retire from Para athletics after competing at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. "I am going to say goodbye to the tracks as I have always raced, giving everything to achieve, for Cuba, my best results in the three events." (granma.cu, 13 Feb 2024)
COMPETITION BREAK
She took a break from international competition after competing at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. "I was given the chance of not competing this year [2022] to get free of competition stress. But I haven't stopped training." She returned to competition in February 2023. (prensa-latina.cu, 13 Feb 2023; runnersworld.com, 14 Mar 2022; periodicocubano.com, 28 Feb 2023)
RELATIONSHIP WITH GUIDE
She began running with a guide after her vision deteriorated. Her coach Miriam Ferrer Fernandez suggested Yuniol Kindelan, a former non-Para sprinter. "[At the beginning] it was difficult because he had never run with a Para athlete and I had never had a guide. That was a challenge. We trained and persevered and got where we are now. I think that I couldn't find another guide like him anywhere else." (paralympic.org, 03 Dec 2022)
BOND WITH COACH
She began working with coach Miriam Ferrer Fernandez in 2005. "I have always worked with Miriam. With her I have gone through everything. We have lived beautiful and special moments. She is like a mother to me. She deals with everything. It isn't only a matter of telling you how many laps you have to run or weights you have to lift. It's being on top of everything, even my daughter's school. I don't have any complaints from my family." (havanatimes.org, 24 Dec 2020; cubahora.cu, 14 Mar 2020)
MATERNITY BREAK
She took time away from competition following the 2012 Paralympic Games in London to give birth to her daughter. She returned to the sport in 2015. "I ran in London while pregnant. Of course, I didn't know that, and I didn't have any symptoms either. I think that my adrenaline and concentration on the competition only led me to perceive nothing. Of course for us athletes who are mothers the effort is a little greater. Having a baby and continuing to lead an athlete's life involves a lot of sacrifice. The greatest inspiration I have in my life is my daughter." (cubasi.cu, 09 May 2020; cubahora.cu, 14 Mar 2020; paralympic.org, 14 Mar 2019; trabajadores.cu, 17 Apr 2016)
OTHER ROLE
In 2021 she began serving as a member of the Athletes' Council of the International Paralympic Committee [IPC]. (runnersworld.com, 14 Mar 2022; revolucioncubana.cip.cu, 06 Sep 2021)
DOCUMENTARY
Her life is portrayed in the documentary film 'Tiempazo' [Great Time], produced by journalist Aurelio Prieto. (domiciliohavana.com, 2021)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderFemale
Birth DateNovember 26, 1991
Place of ResidenceHAVANA
OccupationAthlete
EducationESFA Girardo Cordova Cardin, Havana, CUB
Languages SpokenSpanish
CoachMiriam Ferrer Fernandez, CUB, from 2005
Highlights
Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
Paralympic Games | ||||
1 | 100m - T12 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 11.49 |
1 | 200m - T12 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 23.02 |
1 | 400m - T12 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 52.58 |
1 | 100m - T12 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 11.40 |
1 | 200m - T12 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 23.05 |
1 | 400m - T12 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 51.77 |
1 | 100m - T13 | 2012 | London, GBR | 12.00 |
1 | 400m - T13 | 2012 | London, GBR | 55.12 |
4 | Women's 200m T13 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 25.67 |
6 | 100m - T13 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 12.59 |
8 | 400m - T13 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | DNF |
World Championships | ||||
1 | 100m - T12 | 2023 | Paris, FRA | 11.62 |
1 | 200m - T12 | 2023 | Paris, FRA | 23.07 |
1 | 400m - T12 | 2023 | Paris, FRA | 52.82 |
1 | 100m - T12 | 2019 | Dubai, UAE | 11.66 |
1 | 200m - T12 | 2019 | Dubai, UAE | 23.57 |
1 | 400m - T12 | 2019 | Dubai, UAE | 52.85 |
1 | 100m - T12 | 2017 | London, GBR | 11.52 |
1 | 200m - T12 | 2017 | London, GBR | 23.58 |
1 | 400m - T12 | 2017 | London, GBR | 52.75 |
1 | 100m - T12 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 11.48 |
1 | 200m - T12 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 23.03 |
1 | 400m - T12 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 53.05 |
1 | Women's 200m T13 | 2011 | Christchurch, NZL | 24.24 |
1 | 400m - T13 | 2011 | Christchurch, NZL | 54.87 |
ParaPan American Games | ||||
1 | 100m - T12 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 11.65 |
1 | 200m - T12 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | 23.63 |
DSQ | 400m - T12 | 2023 | Santiago, CHI | DSQ |