Renowned for his unprecedented success in Greco-Roman wrestling, five-time Olympic champion Mijaín López has openly criticized the Cuban regime's narrative, acknowledging the severe crisis facing sports on the island. During an interview with AFP in São Paulo, the "Giant of Herradura" advocated for Cuba's sports sector to embrace global opportunities and professionalization as a means to restore its former glory.
"Cuban sports are in a very delicate state," López, 43, confessed. Having retired in Paris after clinching his fifth consecutive Olympic gold, he now insists that "sports internationally are a business. There are sponsors and brands, but that development hasn't reached Cuba." López is urging "swift changes" so athletes can gain access to sponsors and professional arenas.
His remarks starkly contrast with the legacy of Fidel Castro, who for decades opposed professional sports, labeling them as "mercantilist" and "corrupting." This stance prevented generations of Cuban athletes from competing in international leagues or signing contracts with foreign clubs, leading many to defect.
The Cost of Stubbornness
López pointed to the exodus of athletes, the decay of training facilities, and the lack of resources as significant factors in Cuba's declining performance in recent Olympic cycles. "We've lost many talents… and our training centers have deteriorated," he admitted.
Over the past two decades, thousands of athletes have left the country in search of better conditions and professional opportunities. Meanwhile, the regime clings to a narrative of loyalty and sacrifice. Just months ago, Raúl Castro and Miguel Díaz-Canel honored López as a "Hero of the Republic of Cuba," extolling his dedication to revolutionary values.
Yet, the champion's candid revelations contradict the regime's triumphant rhetoric: the nation struggles to halt the decline in sports performance.
From Glory to Decline
Once a powerhouse in Latin American sports, Cuba concluded the 2024 Paris Olympics with a meager tally of two golds, one silver, and six bronze medals—the worst since their return to the Olympic stage in 1992. This is a far cry from the 14 titles won in Barcelona, which marked the peak of a sports system long celebrated by official propaganda.
The regression is evident beyond medal counts. Across disciplines—be it boxing, baseball, or wrestling—Cuban sports are mired in mediocre outcomes, exacerbated by the continuous flight of talent and athletes' inability to join the international sports market.
An Uphill Olympic Cycle
As a new Olympic cycle approaches, López's warnings are clear: without genuine openness to professionalization and external resources, Cuban sports will continue to deteriorate. His rare public statements for someone of his stature within the system highlight the contradiction between governmental stagnation and the urgent need for reform.
The crisis acknowledgment by a figure like Mijaín López exposes the Cuban state's role in condemning sports to hardship by keeping professional avenues closed. The myth of athletes thriving solely on "sacrifice and without market" has crumbled: López himself, a paragon of perseverance and discipline, asserts that without change, Cuban sports will keep losing its place in the global elite.
Understanding the Crisis in Cuban Sports
Why does Mijaín López advocate for professionalization in Cuban sports?
López believes that embracing professionalization and international opportunities is crucial for restoring Cuban sports' former glory and counteracting the decline caused by isolation and lack of resources.
What impact has the Cuban regime's stance on professional sports had?
The regime's opposition to professional sports has led to a brain drain, with many athletes leaving the country for better opportunities, deteriorating training facilities, and a decline in international sports performance.