‘Congratulations champion. Exceptional among the exceptional. Proud of you, your performance and your Cubanness,’ the president tweeted.

With a standing ovation, the four-time Olympic champion recently received, on the Greek island of Crete, the award granted by the Association of National Olympic Committees, for his performance in the Japanese capital, where over two months ago, he defeated Georgian wrestker Iakobi Kajaia by 5-0 in the final competition in that sport.

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