S P O R T S

Havana. August 10, 2004

JAVIER Sotomayor is confident that Latin American track and field athletes - led by Ana Guevara, Félix Sánchez, Yipsi Moreno and Osleydis Menéndez - will achieve great results in Athens.

The Cuban high jumper predicted success for Mexican Guevara in the 400-meter sprint, Dominican Sánchez in the 400-meter hurdles and Cubans Moreno and Menéndez in the hammer and javelin events, respectively.

“These four are leading their disciplines this season, plus they also have experience and sporting skill and I think they will achieve great results,” commented Sotomayor to Granma International.

The world record high jumper also expressed his confidence in his compatriot Iván Pedroso, who is to defend the Olympic long jump title in Athens.

“Pedroso has recovered from several injuries, he’s improving his form and he’s also a great competitor and very experienced. He just needs a little more self-confidence to make it to the top of the Olympic podium,” affirmed Sotomayor.

Now a member of the track and field coaching commission, the 36-year-old athlete did not rule out Cuban Anier García, winner of the 110-meter hurdles in Sydney, either.

“Allen Johnson from the U.S. seems to be out of the running this year and the level in that discipline is very high, but Anier is recovering his best form and, if all goes well, he’s a candidate for a medal,” explained Sotomayor.

He also mentioned that the men’s triple jump is another trump card for Latin America, citing Brazilian Jadel Gregorio - who has recorded the second best jump of the year with 17.72 meters - not forgetting the Cubans who have a tradition in this event, led by Yoandri Betanzos, world runner up in 2003.

The athlete also expressed his confidence in Cubans Daimi Pernia in the 400- meter hurdles, and Zulia Calatayud in the 800 meters, whom he believes will make it into the finals with chances of a medal.

Sotomayor also mentioned the Mexican racewalkers and Ecuadorian Jefferson Pérez.

At the Sydney Games in 2000, Latin America won two gold medals thanks to Cubans Pedroso and García.

Sotomayor believes that Sweden’s Stefan Holm is the favorite to take home the high jump medal in Athens. “There are several jumpers at a similar level, but Holm is the most consistent at 2.34-2.35 meters, a height I think it will take to win the Olympic gold, he commented.

The Cuban affirmed that the victory in the Barcelona Games in 1992 is his fondest memory of his career. “The Olympic title is the most prestigious,” stated the athlete, who also won the silver medal in Sydney 2000.

However, Sotomayor added: “The strongest feelings I had were from the world records.”

Believed to be the best high jumper of all time, the Cuban broke the world record three times - his mark of 2.45 meters still stands - and was world champion in 1993 and 1997.

Retired since September 2001, Sotomayor acknowledged that he stills feels a nostalgia for athletics: “When I watch a competition or see my comrades training, I miss it very much.”

He revealed that he still trains two or three times a week, for that reason he maintains his weight and is still in good shape; “sometimes we organize competitions among ourselves, the old jumpers.” In particular with Marino Drake, the second highest jumper in Cuba of all time with a score of 2.34 meters.

Sotomayor, who jumped higher than 2.40 meters 17 times in his career, attributed a psychological factor to the event that no one has managed to achieve since Russian Vyacheslav Voronin in 2000.

“Many jumpers have the talent and the physical condition to jump 2.40 meters, but I think there’s a certain conformism because they win the major events with less,” stated the 36-year-old athlete.

In conclusion, Sotomayor affirmed that the young Cuban Lisvany Pérez - with 2.28 meters this season - must improve his performance at the Olympic Games.

“Lisvany has potential but he lacks competitive experience, this is something that he’ll get little by little in time,” explained Sotomayor.

Meanwhile, he added that in Athens, Pérez must improve his score to finish in the final eight.

Father to 11-month-old Javierito and four-year-old Xavier, Sotomayor commented: “I will support my sons in whatever they choose to do, but I’d be very proud if one of them was to be my heir in the long jump.”