Former Cuban athlete Alberto Juantorena is reportedly in critical health condition, as revealed by sports commentator Héctor Villar on Facebook.
Villar indicated that, according to "sources," the two-time Olympic champion's health is precarious.
"The great Juantorena is in critical health condition," Villar posted, sending well-wishes for recovery to a person he described as an "iconic figure in Cuban sports."
Villar's announcement aligns with earlier reports regarding Juantorena's deteriorating physical state.
Journalist Yasel Porto, who also claims to have consulted close sources, reported that Juantorena suffers from a neurodegenerative disease, with no recent improvements in his condition.
Porto emphasized that the 75-year-old double Olympic champion "continues to fight for his life," though the degenerative nature of his illness is concerning.
According to Porto's sources, it's highly unlikely that Juantorena will make public appearances again.
Porto noted that the few images available depict a "very delicate" condition, mentioning even that he received a recent photograph he chose not to share due to the shocking nature of Juantorena's physical state.
The journalist also pointed out that diseases directly affecting the neurological system tend to be highly complex and rarely allow for significant recovery.
Long-term Decline in Health
Reports concerning his health have been accumulating for over a year.
In December 2024, an exclusive photo obtained by CubaNet revealed the significant physical decline of the former athlete: he appeared extremely thin and seated in a wheelchair.
Months earlier, in April of the same year, the outlet had released another image showing Juantorena also in a wheelchair, accompanied by Roberto Vargas Lee, director of the Cuban School of Wushu.
Based on testimonies from sources connected to Cuban athletics, CubaNet reported that Juantorena continued to need a wheelchair even for moving around his home and experienced speech anomalies.
A former official quoted by the outlet summed up the situation with a phrase: "He's still in a complicated state."
The decline isn't recent either. As early as November 2023, the same source had reported that the ex-athlete's health was deteriorating, with speech difficulties and reliance on a wheelchair.
Before that, in August 2022, Juantorena was reported to be in critical condition at the Pedro Kourí Tropical Medicine Institute in Havana, suffering from dengue and post-COVID-19 syndrome.
His last public appearance was in March 2023 during a meeting with Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, at Havana's Pan American Stadium. On that occasion, he seemed to be in good health.
Despite gradually withdrawing from public life, Juantorena continued to receive accolades. In August 2023, he was named an Honorary Member of the World Athletics Council and received the Gold Merit Award, the highest honor from the world governing body of athletics.
Alberto Juantorena, a double Olympic champion in Montreal 1976, led the Cuban Athletics Federation and held one of the vice presidencies of INDER for almost three decades. He also served on the World Athletics Council—formerly IAAF—since 1987 until this year and was vice president of that entity between 2015 and 2019.
Frequently Asked Questions About Alberto Juantorena's Health
What illness does Alberto Juantorena suffer from?
Alberto Juantorena is reportedly suffering from a neurodegenerative disease.
When was Juantorena's last public appearance?
His last public appearance was in March 2023 during a meeting with the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, in Havana.
What recent honors has Juantorena received?
In August 2023, he was named an Honorary Member of the World Athletics Council and received the Gold Merit Award.