List of Olympic medalists for Cuba facts for kids

Cuba has a rich history at the Summer Olympics, with many talented athletes bringing home medals. This article will tell you about some of Cuba's amazing Olympic champions and how they made their country proud! For more details about Cuba's journey in the Summer Olympics, you can click here.

Cuba's First Olympic Heroes

Cuba's Olympic journey began way back in 1900. The very first Cuban to win an Olympic medal was a fencer named Ramón Fonst. He was incredibly skilled!

Early Fencing Success

• In the 1900 Paris Games, Ramón Fonst won a gold medal in men's épée. He also earned a silver medal in another fencing event.
• Just four years later, at the 1904 St. Louis Games, Ramón Fonst won two more gold medals in fencing (épée and foil).
• Other Cuban fencers also shone in 1904: Manuel Díaz won gold in men's sabre, and Albertson Van Zo Post won gold in men's singletick. They also won several silver and bronze medals in fencing, showing how strong Cuba was in this sport early on!

Cuba's Return to the Olympics

After 1904, Cuba didn't win any medals for a long time. It wasn't until the 1948 London Games that Cuba returned to the podium.

Sailing and Athletics Medals

• In 1948, Carlos de Cárdenas won a silver medal in sailing.
• Then, in the 1964 Tokyo Games, Enrique Figuerola won a silver medal in men's 100 metres athletics.
• The 1968 Mexico City Games saw more athletics success with two silver medals in the 4 × 100 metre relays for both men and women.

Boxing: A Cuban Powerhouse

Boxing quickly became one of Cuba's strongest sports in the Olympics, bringing home many gold medals.

Golden Era of Boxing

• At the 1972 Munich Games, Cuba won its first boxing gold medals with Orlando Martínez, Emilio Correa, and the legendary Teófilo Stevenson. Stevenson would go on to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals, a truly amazing feat!
• The 1976 Montreal Games continued this trend, with Teófilo Stevenson winning another gold. Other boxers like Ángel Herrera and Jorge Hernández also won gold.
• In 1980 Moscow, Teófilo Stevenson secured his third gold medal. Cuba's boxers dominated, winning many more gold medals including Juan Hernández, Armando Martínez, Ángel Herrera, José Gómez Mustelier, and Andrés Aldama.

Continued Boxing Dominance

• The 1992 Barcelona Games were incredible for Cuban boxing, with many gold medals won by athletes like Joel Casamayor, Félix Savón (who also won three Olympic golds!), Rogelio Marcelo, Juan Carlos Lemus, Héctor Vinent, Ariel Hernández, and Roberto Balado.
• This success continued through the 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, 2016 Rio, and 2020 Tokyo Games. Cuban boxers consistently showed their strength, winning multiple gold medals in each of these Olympics.

Other Top Sports for Cuba

While boxing is a highlight, Cuba has also excelled in other sports, especially athletics, wrestling, and judo.

Athletics Stars

• Alberto Juantorena was a sensation at the 1976 Montreal Games, winning two gold medals in both the men's 400 metres and 800 metres. This was a very rare achievement!
• María Caridad Colón made history at the 1980 Moscow Games by winning gold in women's javelin throw.
• Javier Sotomayor, a world record holder, won gold in men's high jump at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
• More recently, Dayron Robles won gold in men's 110m hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Games, and Yipsi Moreno won gold in women's hammer throw at the same games.

Wrestling and Judo Prowess

• Wrestling has seen great success, with Héctor Rodríguez winning gold in judo at 1976 Montreal.
• Mijain López is another Cuban legend, winning multiple gold medals in Greco-Roman wrestling across several Olympics, including 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, 2016 Rio, and 2020 Tokyo.
• In judo, Odalis Revé won gold in 1992, and Driulis González won gold in 1996. Idalys Ortiz has also been a consistent medalist, winning gold in 2012 and multiple silver and bronze medals.

Team Sports and More

• The Cuban baseball team has been incredibly strong, winning gold medals in 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta, and silver in 2000 Sydney and 2008 Beijing.
• The Cuban women's volleyball team also achieved a fantastic feat, winning three consecutive gold medals in 1992 Barcelona, 1996 Atlanta, and 2000 Sydney.
• Other sports like weightlifting, shooting, canoeing, and taekwondo have also contributed to Cuba's medal count over the years.

Cuba's athletes have shown incredible dedication and talent over the decades, making their country a strong competitor in the Summer Olympics!

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Medallistas olímpicos de Cuba para niños