Cuban Sprinter Reynier Mena Shines in Diamond League with Season's Best Performance

Cuban sprinter Reynier Mena continues to make waves in the world of elite athletics, showcasing his talent far from his homeland. This past Sunday, Mena decisively won the 200 meters at the Diamond League meet in Stockholm, demonstrating his impressive form. Competing for SL Benfica of Portugal, Mena clocked in at 20.05 seconds, his best this season and the fourth fastest of his career. The legendary Usain Bolt was present in the stands as a special guest, witnessing the prowess of a Cuban athlete who no longer represents his native country.

Despite two false starts and the disqualification of Canadian sprinter Aaron Brown, the athlete from Marianao stayed composed and dominated the track, leaving behind Liberian Joseph Fahnbulleh (20.32), ranked fifth globally, and American Kyree King (20.49).

A Journey of Dedication and Success

At 28, Mena has reached a remarkable level of athletic maturity. "All the hard work in training is paying off," he remarked after his victory. "I've been improving with each competition, and I hope to break the 20-second barrier soon. I need to keep working hard and have faith in myself."

This triumph marks his sixth win in the last seven events, underscoring his consistency among the world's top sprinters. His progression includes standout performances like a 19.63-second run in France (June 2022), setting a Cuban national record, and times of 19.95 seconds in both Poland (August 2022) and Savona (May 2023). In Lisbon, he recorded a time of 20.04 seconds (June 2022).

Additionally, Mena is among only five Cubans who have broken the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters, achieving a time of 9.99 seconds in July 2022. Historically, only four other Cubans have been faster.

A Life-Altering Decision

Mena was once the promising star of Cuban athletics. In 2013, he claimed two bronze medals in the World U-18 Championships (100 and 200 meters), believing his moment had arrived. However, the sports system in Cuba failed to support his growth.

"My times started to decline, and I had no international competitions; in Cuba, who could I compete against in sprints?" he explained in an interview with CiberCuba in October 2022. The lack of competition, support, and opportunities forced him to make a choice. "I found myself at a point in my life where I had to make a decision, and I did. I officially requested to leave the national team and sought new horizons."

In December 2021, Mena left his family, team, and country behind to pursue his dreams. Settling in Portugal, he trained rigorously and, within months, broke the 20-second barrier in the 200 meters, achieving a time of 19.63 seconds, which placed him among the 10 fastest men ever at that distance. Currently, it's the 12th best world record of all time.

"If I were still in Cuba, I don't know if I would have continued in athletics," he admitted. "Do you think it's easy to leave everything behind, your people, your mother, your country? It's incredibly tough. But my results show that I made the right decision."

Alongside his achievements, Reynier Mena is in the process of officially representing Portugal. "My dream is to represent Portugal in the Olympic Games or World Championships. Running is my art, like an artist on the track," he stated.

And he has indeed proven himself. At the Diamond League event in Oslo on June 12, he shone again with a time of 20.20 seconds, defeating Swiss Timothe Mumenthaler and Canadian Andre De Grasse, a seven-time Olympic medalist. Then, in Stockholm, he confirmed his status among the elite.