Cuban sprinter Shainer Rengifo, the current national record holder in the 100-meter dash, left the Olympic track and field team's training base in Guadalajara, Spain, this Thursday.
According to Playoffmagazine on Facebook, Rengifo recently departed from the Alcarria hotel, where part of the Cuban delegation was staying before heading to Paris for the upcoming Olympic Games.
It’s important to note that Rengifo, originally from the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud, had already been ruled out of the Olympic squad after suffering an injury on June 30 during a practice session.
Details of the Injury
"He was covering a morning strength training session in the gym when he injured his ankle while stepping down from a bench. The injury was immediately attended to, and he is following the prescribed treatment," explained the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) in a statement.
Rengifo suffered a fracture at the base of the fifth metatarsal in his right ankle.
His decision to leave the team deals a significant blow to Cuba, as he had raised high hopes among athletics fans with his season-best time of 9.90 seconds in Salamanca, Spain. In the same event, his teammate Reinaldo Espinosa also made headlines by clocking 9.96 seconds, securing his spot for the multi-sport event.
Just two days ago, Annia Hernández Peñalver, the coach of the under-12 women's softball team, left the national delegation during a layover in Miami and sought asylum from U.S. authorities.
Hernández took advantage of her stay at Miami International Airport (MIA), where the team had a technical stop en route to Puerto Rico for the 2024 Little League Latin American Tournament, according to The Cuban Baseball Digest.
Upon arriving at MIA, the coach turned herself in to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to request political asylum in the United States. After an interview with the officers, Hernández was released, as confirmed by sources connected to the case who spoke to Martí Noticias.
These departures by Rengifo and Hernández add to the growing list of Cuban sports figures who have abandoned the country or national teams while abroad, seeking better opportunities for their sports careers and lives amid Cuba's ongoing crisis.
Key Questions About Cuban Athletes Leaving Their Delegations
The recent departures of Shainer Rengifo and Annia Hernández Peñalver have raised several important questions about the trend of Cuban athletes leaving their national delegations. Below are some key questions and answers related to this issue.
Why did Shainer Rengifo leave the Cuban delegation in Spain?
Shainer Rengifo left the Cuban delegation in Spain amid ongoing issues within the team and the broader crisis in Cuba. He had also been ruled out of the Olympic squad due to an injury.
What injury did Shainer Rengifo suffer?
Rengifo suffered a fracture at the base of the fifth metatarsal in his right ankle during a morning strength training session.
What did Annia Hernández Peñalver do in Miami?
Annia Hernández Peñalver sought asylum from U.S. authorities during a layover at Miami International Airport while en route to Puerto Rico with the under-12 women's softball team.