In July 1987 Aliuska López Pedroso He hadn’t turned 18 when he beat the 100 meter hurdles in 12.84 seconds at the Zagreb Universiade. Does that mean little to you? Well, read the following carefully: only four since then! athletes under the age of 20 have been able to surpass that figure. Just awesome.
To her youth record, the Havana girl later added a series of attractive conquests in a cake, the icing of which was the triumph of the 1995 universal indoor event. Finalist in two of the three Olympic Games, fourth in the 1993 planetary joust, triple gold in the Pan American Games, her long career spanning two decades eventually crowned her the best Cuban short hurdler of all time.
With the coming of the 21st century she settled on Spanish soil and for that country she participated in her later seasons on the slopes. Heartfelt and diligent, from there he agreed to have this exchange of views CiberCuba.
You set two junior world records in Zagreb, but didn’t come close to the highest level then. Do you feel like your progress has stopped, or could it be that those times of the Bulgarian Zagorcheva and Donkova were just unattainable?
“I don’t think my progress has stopped.” At the time, there were high-level runners with a lot of potential, especially physical. These were different times, where unfortunately we did not go on an equal footing, because these were the times of ‘anything goes’. But I was in the world and Olympic finals and that makes me think that I got very good results.
Do you still think that the best part of your career was returning to the Pan American Stadium in Havana in 1991, with your whole family clapping?
– It wasn’t the best thing I’ve done in my sports career, but it was one of the best moments I’ve had. That moment when I saw a stadium packed like never before, people clapping, shouting your name, and most of all saw my father’s face with a smile and his eyes with tears of joy … I grew up running through those fields, because the stadium was built in what was the courtyard of my house, where my cousin Ivan Pedroso and I’ve been doing track and field competitions since we were kids.
How can a tall athlete like you win a 60m hurdles world final?
“I wouldn’t be able to answer that question myself.” Technically it was a very clean race. That year I arrived at the World Cup in a beautiful sportive form, we had done a good preparation and did several competitions that helped me to gain confidence. I’ve never considered myself a good starter, but I had my days and that was one of them. Normally my strength was the last hurdles, but I will tell you that sometimes the first hurdles were better and the others lacked a little strength, as happened to me at the Sydney Olympics. The truth, the 60 with gates was very short.
How much does it hurt you not to have earned an Olympic medal?
– Every athlete’s dream is an Olympic medal, so if I say it doesn’t hurt I would be lying. But I am very satisfied with my sporting performance, because every time I hit the slopes, I gave it my all. I think competing in three Olympics and finishing fifth and sixth is not easy because for that you have to stay in shape through three Olympic cycles and make sure that injuries respect you. To be honest, I am more than satisfied.
Once you decided to emigrate to Spain you had the experience of fighting under a different flag. Did you feel strange or easily accepted the change?
– First of all, I am very grateful to Spain for opening the doors for me to compete further and see athletics from a different point of view. Now, I will tell you it was not the same feeling for me as when I competed for Cuba. It was like I was missing something. A different feeling, so much so that I have never been able to adapt to that new state. However, I repeat that I am very grateful to this country.
Why did it take you 16 years for you to return to your country if you legally emigrated from Cuba after marrying a Spanish citizen? I read that it was all because you left with an official passport, but do you think that justified such a long sentence?
“I still don’t have an answer to that question to this day.” No one has ever told me the reason for those 16 endless years that I was unable to enter Cuba to see my family. It was 16 years that I lost my father’s life, who I could barely be with after 15 days, because he was just waiting for me to leave happily. It’s very sad that I still haven’t had an answer.
In an interview you said that “Cuba forces you to desire”. Did the idea of returning for good ever occur to you?
– My whole family lives in Cuba, so one day I hope to return to my country forever.
In which city do you live and what are you currently doing?
—I live in Asturias and work at the Oviedo Athletics club with 9-10 year olds. I also provide targeted activities in a gym.
Who is the best Cuban hurdler of all time? In what order would you put it behind?
– Each of us who went through hurdle school has had our moment. Giving you an order would be unfair but to me because of his strength because he knew how to be on the slopes and because of his hint of madness I think it has been for the best Anier Garcia. This without prejudice to Dayron robs, Emilio Valle, Alejandro Casañas and the 100 girls with gates.
Would the Cuban fence school have been just as glorious without Santiago Antúnez?
– Every coach has his little book, and there were many very good ones, like Heriberto Fernández, one of the best Cuba has ever had. But what I’m sure is that Santiago is the best for me, and if I started my sports life again, he would remain my hurdle wizard.
What do you think is happening to Cuban athletics today?
– I have been away from Cuba and top sport for many years, I don’t know what is happening in Cuban athletics and sports in general at the moment, but I imagine they have stopped looking in the quarries, in the EIDE, the municipalities, the provinces, which were a fundamental part of the deposits. The little that I have seen during my visit to Cuba is the decline of the sports facilities, the lack of tracks to train the children and the lack of motivation. The territories don’t have the necessary prerequisites, and I don’t see athletes that union that existed in my time, when we were all one big family.