Following the circulation of images on social media allegedly depicting triple Olympic boxing champion Félix Savón scavenging for food in a garbage bin, Cuban chess Grandmaster Lázaro Bruzón voiced a strong critique against the systematic neglect by the Cuban regime of its former athletes once they cease to be useful as propaganda tools.
Having left Cuba in 2018 after two decades of competing under the Cuban flag, Bruzón highlighted the numerous cases of celebrated Cuban sports figures now living in dire straits. This issue is particularly personal for him, as he comes from the same sports environment.
“If there was any area where the Cuban system enforced its indoctrination more vigorously, it was in sports. I, too, went through all the sports schools. Many of these athletes dedicated their best years not only for the dream of excelling in their fields, but for the dream of representing an entire nation,” he expressed on Facebook.
The Hidden Costs of Cuban Sports Success
The Holguin-born chess player pointed out that the average intellectual level in sports differs from other fields, and that this vulnerability explains why so many athletes—particularly baseball players—turned down lucrative contracts that could have changed their lives.
“It also explains why a small, economically challenged island chose to push sports to the forefront: they needed to project an image of power and turn sports achievements into political propaganda,” he stated.
“All athletes were useful numbers while we delivered results. Once retired, the deal was over for them. That’s how the system works: it recycles people, squeezes souls, and discards those who no longer fit its narrative,” Bruzón continued.
A Personal Reckoning
Bruzón admitted he spent two decades supporting that system without realizing it. “I believed I was representing my people, when in fact, I was unknowingly supporting a system that has devastated the nation,” he confessed.
Finally, he held those in power since 1959 responsible for the harm done to thousands of athletes, who have been indoctrinated from childhood and used as propaganda. “All part of the same machinery that squeezed us and discarded us when we were no longer useful to their narrative,” he concluded.
Symbolic Cases of Neglect
The case of Félix Savón is especially symbolic. The Guantanamo-born boxer, a six-time amateur world champion and triple Olympic champion, once turned down million-dollar offers out of declared loyalty to the Cuban government. He was arrested in September 2018 for an alleged offense against a minor under 12 years old and is expected to be released conditionally by late 2024 after serving approximately six years in prison.
Recently, it was documented that former world boxing champion Bernardo Comas, 65, suffers from senile dementia and lives in Camagüey on a pension of 8,000 pesos per month.
In March, former boxer Gaspar Casamayor, recognized as a “Gloria Deportiva,” was seen begging for money in the streets of Santiago de Cuba. In July, 73-year-old basketball player Félix Morales Alfonso was shown living in poor conditions in Cárdenas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Retired Cuban Athletes
Why does Lázaro Bruzón criticize the Cuban system regarding retired athletes?
Lázaro Bruzón criticizes the Cuban system for systematically neglecting its retired athletes, who are no longer useful for propaganda purposes. He argues that once these athletes stop producing results, the system discards them.
What are some examples of retired Cuban athletes facing difficulties?
Examples include Félix Savón, who was seen scavenging for food; Bernardo Comas, who suffers from dementia and lives on a small pension; Gaspar Casamayor, seen begging; and Félix Morales Alfonso, living in poor conditions.