Orlando Ortega Bids Farewell, Leaving an Olympic Legacy for Spain

Cuban hurdler Orlando Ortega announced his departure from the track on Monday, leaving behind a notable Olympic legacy while representing Spain. The athlete, who became a Spanish citizen, earned a silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. His decision to retire comes after enduring multiple injuries, as he shared on his Instagram account.

"There's a limit to suffering; you can't always risk your health. A recent injury accelerated a decision I already had in mind: to retire from the track at full capacity," Ortega stated. "Unfortunately, it wasn't possible, but I take comfort in knowing I tried my best. I am stepping away from high-level competition, but not from my love for this sport," he added in his social media post.

Ortega expressed gratitude to his family, late grandmother, wife, daughter, and his hometown of Artemisa, as well as to the Spanish Federation, the Olympic Committee, and the Superior Council of Sports. "I close this chapter filled with unforgettable moments. I retire with my head held high, proud of my athletic career and recognizing that, by the grace of God, I achieved what very few have in the world of track and field," he remarked.

Achievements and Reflections

The hurdler recalled his accomplishments, such as winning bronze medals at the 2019 Doha World Championships and the 2018 Berlin European Championships. "I leave with the desire to continue because my spirit has always been that of a winner and a fierce competitor," he affirmed. "My love for athletics is so profound that I would sacrifice my entire life for it, but I can't continue being selfish with myself or my family, who have also given up so much in pursuit of my dream—a dream that I have realized beyond expectations. Despite the injury, I've learned enough to know that this is the right moment to say goodbye," he confessed in the heartfelt message.

Finally, he addressed the sport he excelled in: "Athletics, it’s time to see and enjoy you from a different perspective. I carry the pride of looking back and knowing I fought with passion, just as I now look to the future with the same intensity and hope."

Departure from Cuba

Several years ago, Ortega shared the challenges he faced upon arriving in Spain, admitting he was "on the verge of depression." "I left Cuba and arrived in a new country where I knew almost no one and had nothing. I nearly fell into depression, questioning whether I had made the right decision. But I told myself: 'You're here now, just move forward.' The next step was to do well, and I was determined to excel because I had sacrificed so much. I vowed to train even harder and fight for my dreams in competition," he recounted.

The Cuban athlete left the official island delegation at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, where he had been a medal favorite, ranking third globally that year and sixth in the 2012 London Olympics. After his departure, the Cuban sports institute criticized him, stating in an official declaration: "The decision to abandon the cause of the country that enabled him to develop as an athlete deprives him of the honor of competing under a sports movement grounded in its values."

Ortega settled in Spain. The Cuban Institute of Sports (INDER) attempted to prevent him from competing under the Spanish flag and, naturally, barred him from competing for Cuba. In 2013, Spain not only welcomed him as an immigrant but also supported him as an athlete, even without knowing if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would allow him to compete.

The Olympic medalist is the grandson of the legendary Cristina Echevarría, a champion at the 1967 Winnipeg Pan American Games (4x100 relay), and Orlando Ortega, a former soccer player from Cuba.