Iris de la Cruz, student of journalism
The Pan Am and Latin American Triathlon Cup is news in Havana for all the fans in its three categories: sprint, medium and long distances, the last one known as Ironman. At the same time, the Cuban federation of this discipline works with Triathlon International Union (ITU) in pursue to develop other events in Cuba.
“The main goal is to promote triathlon in Cuba. It is very important the Cuban athletes have a place in triathlon in the Olympic Games because they deserve that, but they need a push. The fact that we have 400 participants in this first edition, it is a sign we are in the correct direction,” said Marison Casado, ITU official.
In another part of the interview, the federative reminded there are still lots of debates on the technical topics in the regulations in this sport, and at the same time highlighted the awards handed in to Cuba – works of art–, of great artistic value.
“Triathlon will not only participate in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016, but will also do it for the first time in the Paralympics whose classification system have already started and will be in three events,” she commented.
In respect to the medium and long distances for the games in Brazil, she noted it would be really difficult that the International Olympic Committee would allow increase the quantity of participants, so they are working to incorporate in Tokyo 2020 those that will substitute the current ones, either males or females with the same quantity of athletes.
“Our main goal is to promote this sport among women, so any country that will like to win one more medal will have to invest in it. Besides, the component of the team in a so individual discipline like triathlon is of a well appreciated value,” she said.
Triathlon is a challenge for everybody, competitors and organizers. We hope is could be done again and we trust it will be an event. We hope it could be done again and we trust it would be a permanent event in the calendar, so we can internationalize triathlon in Cuba. The normal thing is that if everything is OK, it will be there for good, “she stressed.
In this competition, the Spanish Marcel Zamora (4:20:31) won the golden medal in the male medium distance, followed by Ernesto Espinoza from Costa Rica (4:37:57) and Andres Fonseca from Guatemala (4:43:31). The Cuban that reached the best position was Carlos Rafael Rodriguez in the 16th position with 5:4:32, but he did not managed to accumulate points for the ranking.
Mathilde Batailler from France won the female in the medium distance with 5:16:03 and the podium was completed by Mauren Solano from Costa Rica (5:21:20) and the Brazilian Graciella Fenzzo (5:28:32). Isabel Cuellar and Yadira Corona were the Cubans with the best positions in the sixth and eighth places and they accumulated for the ranking.
