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12th World Championships in Athletics
Leonel Suárez’s heroic silver medal
in the decathlon
Enrique Montesinos
 BERLIN.—
Having three decathletes among the nine best in a
World Championships event may not be an absolute
record, but it is no doubt a stupendous average for
anybody, and definitely an unprecedented feat for
small countries like Cuba, which yesterday (August
20) was able to say that it had a night of
decathletes at the 2009 Berlin World Championships
in Athletics.
These young athletes set an example of good
preparation for such an important event, improving
their scores in many of the disciplines, led by
Leonel Suárez, who won a silver medal in what is
considered the most complete sport. In addition,
Yordani García took eighth place and newcomer Yunior
Díaz, ninth.
 For
Holguín native Leonel, 21, this runner-up world
title reaffirms his place among the international
elite, and of course, he expressed his satisfaction
talking to reporters.
“For
those who thought my Olympic bronze was a question
of luck, this runner-up world title is a spectacular
outcome for me.”
His
total of 8,640 points was just 14 short of his
personal best and Cuban record. He confirmed that by
the end of the first day, he realized that he had a
shot at the medal, and he felt stronger the next
day, demonstrating it by moving up from eighth to
second place.
The
only reason his performance wasn’t enough for the
gold was because Trey Hardee (USA - 8,790) was
magnificent from the very first event, and went on
to take the lead worldwide for the season.
Leonel improved considerably in the pole vault, for
example, reaching 5.00 meters, and he said it was
thanks to his training in Havana with his vaulting
coaches.
“In
the first two events, 100 meters and long jump, I
didn’t do as well as I expected, and they were key
to a better overall outcome,” he commented.
Nevertheless, he made up for it after that.
He
dedicated his triumph to many: the people of Cuba;
the crew led by coach Gabino Arzola; Dr. Llerena;
his uncles, his family in Santiago…
Asked about when he thought he would be a champion,
he said it was one of his dreams, and he planned to
keep training hard, because he had his whole future
ahead of him. “Maybe in the next World
Championships,” he said.
For
Pinar del Rio native Yordani García, placing eighth
(8,387)
in a
World Championships event is a merit, even though he
was hoping to be among the top five. Unlike Leonel,
his second day didn’t go so well, although he only
slid down two notches. “My position was the same as
it was two years ago, and I increased my points,
which isn’t bad, but also it wasn’t my personal
best. I had serious problems in the shot put and
long jump,” he told this reporter.
And
Havana native Yunior Díaz (8,357, personal best) was
feeling both content and dissatisfied. “I wanted to
finish among the top eight,” the 22-year-old and
likewise pupil of Arzola commented.
He
went on to comment that it actually was a real
achievement for a newcomer to place so well, and to
have made an impression for his high score in the
400 meters – 46:15 seconds. But he regretted the
foul on his second discus throw: “It was about 46
meters, and it would have placed me among the [top]
eight.”
Leonel and Yordani are well-known challenges for the
world’s decathlon “sensations.” Now Yunior Díaz has
joined them.
Translated by Granma International
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