The president recalled that 40 years ago, after this athlete “with his heart” and his legs had shaken the country with two gold medals under the five rings, he repeated the feat in Havana 1982.

“Today, he and the doctors are fighting for his life and #Cuba hopes that they will also win. Good health, champion,” the head of State wrote on his Twitter account.

Juantorena, called the elegant of the tracks after achieving the double victory in the 800- and 400-meter races in the Montreal Olympics, only three days apart, repeatedly dedicated his victory to the Cuban Revolution and Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro.

On August 12, 1982, at the Central American Games in Havana, in the presence of the Cuban leader, in the final race of the 4×400-meter relay, he was passed on the baton late, recovered the advantage taken by the Jamaican quartet and won the race.

When interviewed by the press, he dedicated the gold medal as a gift to then President Fidel Castro, on the eve of his birthday.

He is the incumbent president of the Cuban Athletics Federation.

Juantorena was admitted at the Pedro Kouri Tropical Medicine Institute where is being attended to by a multidisciplinary team of physicians. He is in a stable critical condition as a result of complications from Covid-19, which he acquired abroad. He is suffering from bronchopneumonia and cardiac decompensation.

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