Harold Iglesias Manresa

TRIPLE jumper Ernesto Revé admitted being unhappy with himself after performing poorly during the London Olympics due to an injury. However, he was determined to approach the new season as a clean slate and jumped for 17.46 meters in the recent Cuba Cup competition, getting a good start on the road to the Moscow World Championships.

His jump placed him in the lead of the initial outdoor world ranking, having previously demonstrated his credentials with a 17.35m jump to surpass the 17.20 mark and earn an International Association of Athletics Federation ticket to the Moscow World event, scheduled for August 10-18. He has only been bested this year by Italy’s Daniele Greco, who made a 17.70 jump during the indoor season.

"The year of 2012 was one of lessons and injuries for me. I learned to carefully follow my coach’s instructions, from the warm-up, to the stretching exercises done after every training session. I have internalized this now, in addition to the work directed toward improving my technique and my take-off sprint, as well as the parallel support of our psychologist and physical therapist," explained the 21-year-old from Guantánamo, who has to his credit a juvenile silver medal from the 2010 Moncton, Canada competition, where he jumped for a distance of 16.47m.

What is his secret weapon? His strength and power on the take-off, very similar to his temperament. Since he entered the ranks of the elite in 2009, Revé has worked with Alexis Copello, Arnie David Girat and Yohandri Betanzos, triple jumpers who, for different reasons, are no longer with the Cuban athletics team.

Revé’s principal training partner now is Pedro Pablo Pichardo, winner of the Barcelona 2012 juvenile competition. "Rivalry is always good. Having someone at Pichardo’s level around obliges me to constantly improve. What is important to both of us is maintaining the prestige which the Cuban school of triple jumping has enjoyed, "he said.