Pedro Pichardo at the 2022 World Indoor Championships in Belgrade

Havana is home to many elite track and field athletes and may be the world capital of Olympic boxing. We are here to uncover the story behind the exodus of Cuban athletes who are navigating between identity and succeeding at the world stage.

Exodus of athletes

As we walk through the streets of Havana we meet with Fabio Quintero, a sports journalist for “OnCuba” who investigates the “athletes exodus” phenomenon. Discussing the careers of athletes like triple jumpers Pedro Pichardo and Lazaro Martinez or sprinters like Reynier Mena and Libania Grenot, we try to understand their struggle between Cuban identity and their dreams to top the world podiums of track and field.

Pedro Pichardo & Lazaro Martinez

To understand the dilemma, let us start with the triple jumpers. The Olympic Champion Pedro Pichardo has a passion for unique gestures and decided to climb into the stands during the World Athletics Championships 2022 in Eugene after winning gold with a jump of 17.95 metres. He draped a symbolic medal around his father’s neck and celebrated his victory with a giant Portuguese flag — a deliberate choice echoing his earlier celebrations at the Olympics.

According to Fabio it is evident that the athlete’s celebration was more than a gesture. Very different to Pichardo’s journey, athletes like Lazaro Martinez are confronted with the harsh realities in Cuba. Martinez, a world indoor champion, found himself in a fierce competition with Pichardo. Despite the lack of advanced training facilities, proper nutrition and medical support Lazaro remained committed to representing his homeland.

Rafael Trejo Boxing Gym

Leaving Cuba to seek better training conditions, economic stability and a pathway to compete on a global stage doesn’t just apply to the world of track and field. Let us look at what goes on in the ring! As we explored the historic Rafael Trejo Boxing Gym in Havana, the birthplace of Cuban boxing legends, we witnessed the struggles faced by athletes training in open-air facilities with limited resources. Ernesto, a boxing coach at the gym, shared shocking details about the terrible conditions. Athletes lacked basic equipment with some unable to afford boxing shoes, gloves or even socks. Their training gear has been donated by people who had visited the gym as government support was minimal or none.

Cuba, a powerhouse of Olympic boxing

Despite training in challenging conditions, Cuba has consistently ranked among the top Olympic medalists, second only to the United States (while being a tiny island of 11 million people only). This achievement becomes even more remarkable when considering the country’s severe economic challenges and the lack of resources for athletes.

Despite poverty and limited resources, these athletes displayed their will to defy the odds, bringing pride to a nation facing economic hardships, intensified by the embargo and recent decline in tourism due to the global Covid-19 pandemic.

Coach Ernesto

Ernesto, Boxing Coach at Rafael Trejo Boxing Gym

Ernesto revealed that Cuban boxers are required to return their dollar premiums earned at international competitions, i.e. handing them over to the government. Also, a Cuban boxer is not allowed to turn professional, which limits their financial opportunities and eventually their aspirations.

Mario Kindelan asked Amir Khan to buy his gold medal

Khan and Kindelan at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games

In Cuba, where the minimum monthly salary is a mere $9 the struggle for food and basic necessities is making it difficult for many to focus on boxing. A few days ago we learned in the news about the struggles faced by even Olympic champions. Mario Kindelan, a Cuban boxer, offered his gold medal to Amir Khan who had lost to him in the 2004 Athens Olympics. Kindelan who is facing financial difficulties proposed selling the medal to Khan. In a heartwarming gesture Khan refused to buy the medal and instead offered to give Kindelan the money to build a house for his family. This shocking example emphasizes the harsh reality that even Olympic champions can suffer from poverty, being forced to sell their hard-earned medals.

Cuban identity and how it propels them to conquer world stage

We believe that, whether in track and field or boxing, athletes carry with them a piece of Cuba wherever they go. Their resilience, passion and love for their homeland persist despite the political challenges they encounter.

Why Cubans leave their Country for the Olympic Dream