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Cuban Javier Sotomayor holds a world record that no one has been able to beat for 30 years. The high jumper in an interview with Sport spoke about his attitude towards the boycott of the two Olympics, about his acquaintance with Fidel Castro, and also about whether Russian athletes should agree to a neutral status.
- The conversation took place within the framework of the Week of Athletics in Moscow, which is organized by the Department of Sports of the City of Moscow together with the ARAF as part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Moscow sports with the information support of our agency.< /li>
— With what feelings did you return to Moscow, because you have been here many times? And how did they perceive the invitation to participate in such an event as «Athletics Week»?
— When I was invited, I felt pride and gratitude that I can visit Moscow again. I always come here with great pleasure. Actually, I first visited Russia in 1983. Then it was not Moscow, but Leningrad. Then the competition was called the Youth Friendship Games, and the very next year he came to Moscow for the Friendship-84 games.- 16 years old, Luzhniki stadium, crowded stands. Did the greatness of that event remain in your memory?
Yes, I was 16 years old. For us it was the most important tournament, given that we did not go to the Olympic Games. The level of competition was quite high, the Soviet high jumpers were very strong at that time. Performing among the best at 16 years old was unforgettable. Also the first place, which was shared with Valery Sereda.
— As they say, friendship won?
— Yes, yes! (laughs)
«I was afraid to jump until the age of 14»
— I would like to return to your childhood. Boxing and baseball are very popular in Cuba. Surely Teofilo Stevenson was one of your idols. But you still went to athletics. Why did you choose this path?- I like boxing, but I don't like being beaten (laughs). I like watching boxing but not practicing. I also like baseball, but athletics was not inferior to him. And such names as Alejandro Casanas, Alberto Juantorena were well-known. So the choice was conscious.
— Something hooked, maybe especially? Like, I want to be like …
— I just wanted to be like Juantorena.
— But he was still a runner , and you went to jumping …- In general, when I came to athletics, I was afraid to jump, I didn’t like it. And I was running.
— How did you end up with your discipline? Did the coach insist?
—In Cuba, when we start doing athletics at the age of 10-11, then until the age of 14 we practice different disciplines, try ourselves. And only at the age of 14 I began to specialize in jumping. Although I still liked them the least!
— And when did that fear go away?
— Yes, from the age of 14, and began to leave slowly. But before that, it was very scary.
— Do you remember your very first jump and how it felt?
br> — Of course, I remember well. Both the first scissor jump and the first back attempt. the Olympics were held in parallel, to which our countries decided not to send their delegations. How embarrassing was it to miss the Games back then?
— Look, we missed two Olympics — the 84th and 88th years. As for the 1984 Games. In fact, I felt calm, perceived normally. Realized the reason why we don't participate, that it's politics. They kept in mind what happened at the 1980 Olympics, which the United States did not come to. br>- Yes, just the same. Then we took everything differently, for granted. Now, after the lapse of time, I had already other sensations. But at that stage, we thought that this was how it should be.
Most athletes say that there is no motivation stronger than the Olympic dream. At the age of 16, even if you understood that it was necessary, did you still have a dream to go to the Olympics? br>- Even then I wanted to become the absolute world champion. After all, someone dreams of becoming a champion, and someone wants to at least get to the Olympic Games. And everyone's dream depends on their capabilities. From the age of 16 I thought only about the gold of the Games.
— Victorious Olympics-1992. Still dreaming?
— Of course. I was under a lot of pressure before those competitions after two missed Olympics. The burden of responsibility was very heavy. After the victory, real happiness came.
— Do you remember the moment of the pedestal? What were you thinking?- «Finally, I did it!»
On the suspension of Russians
—For the past seven years, Russian athletes have not competed under their own flag, now they are generally suspended. Didn't hear the anthem. Purely hypothetically, if you were in their place now, would you go to the Games in a neutral status?
— If there is an opportunity, you need to compete, show your strength, your capabilities, your talent. After all, youth is gone. I would compete. It is clear that I would feel differently, it is not the same as if I performed with the flag and the anthem. >— Athletes often say that everyone knows where you are from and what country you represent.
— Yes, in any case, they would know that I am from Cuba and everyone would know that I compete like a Cuban. But it is worth noting that, first of all, you represent yourself.
— If I’m not mistaken, you once said that if the competition was stronger at your age, then you would jump even higher, by 2.50 m. Is this true?
— Just the opposite! Always said that I lived in the best era of the high jump. And it helped me set my world records.
—But 2.50 still didn't jump…
Yes, but, as I said, not because I had no competition. More than 2.45 m was not due to injuries that haunted us all. There was another reason — the death of my coach.
— In those years, good conditions were created in Cuba for athletes? As far as I remember, many athletes left the country abroad and stayed in other countries. Perhaps — in search of better conditions.
— It was good, but not the best conditions for training. Conditions were better in many other countries, in Spain, in the USSR.
—Have you ever had thoughts of leaving, did the «delights of the West» seduce you?
In fact, in my time there were few such athletes who left in the 70s-80s-90s. This situation has changed since the 2000s, unfortunately. I didn't have such thoughts.- Sport in those days had a large ideological component. In Cuba, how was sport treated, was it also part of politics?
Sport has always been part of the prestige of the country at any time. And Cuba is no exception.
—Vladimir Putin periodically arranges receptions for athletes. Did you know Fidel Castro?
— We had excellent relations, Fidel talked with us a lot. Any president who loves sports will always be close to the athletes. Raul was not such a big sports fan. And Fidel, yes. He has been involved in sports since childhood. He was in love with sports, and it was the best era in Cuban sports history.
— Fidel generally has a great halo of legend. How did you perceive him, as a legend, a man-history?
— He was a great motivator for everyone. Able to motivate athletes. Not only me. He took very good care of us. And always after major tournaments in which the Cuban national team took part, whether it was the World Championships or the Olympic Games, he always met us.
strong> — Children of the Soviet Union were brought up on the concept of friendship between the USSR and Cuba. Now the situation has changed a lot? How are Russians treated in Cuba?
— It cannot be said that recently we have been somehow separated from the Russians. But the Cuban economy depends on many other factors. Now there are great expectations that Russia will again enter the Cuban economy. These are the expectations not of Cubans from Miami, but of Cubans from Cuba (laughs). Yes-ah-ah…
—Are young people now more pro-American?
— Youth — yes, there are a few. Of course, everyone understands that we can get more support from Russia than from the US. But many things are not the same as before. No, they are not against Russia, but a certain «American mentality» has appeared. To be honest, most people in Cuba now prefer not to talk about politics.
—By the way, many Russian athletes, ending their careers, go into politics. Have you thought about it?
— No! Never. In general, there are few athletes in Cuba who have gone into politics.- In athletics circles, the topic of resetting world records was raised, it was discussed by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, if I'm not mistaken. Like, doping control was not so thorough then.
— It's hard to say something here. Then cancel the national records first. After all, the national record cannot be higher than the world record, right? I am categorically against such ideas. I will not judge in which era there were more problems with doping, in which — less. First you need to provide evidence. It is impossible to say that someone has broken a record thanks to doping, without having evidence.
— Returning to your record. There were attempts to beat him, someone was even close, Mutaz Barshim, Bogdan Bondarenko. These are single attempts. But no one could beat him like that. How can you explain it? The level, it turns out, has decreased?
— I have been a world record holder for 35 years, I set the first record in 1988. But I don't have an answer to this question. If I had an answer, it would be only this: because my son will beat him (laughs).
— Will the record be broken or not … The question is: do you want it to be broken or let it last forever?
— Of course. Beaten by my son. Seriously, I know that one of these days the record will be broken.
Is your son also into high jump or another discipline?
— Yes, he is engaged in high jumps. He is 15 years old and jumps around 2.05m.
— That is, there are prospects for reaching the highest level?
— About It's too early to tell, he's only 15 years old. But I, of course, would like it.
— When was the last time you jumped yourself?
— It was a very long time ago. Once I tried to jump during training with my son, but I regretted it (laughs). Injured shoulder.
— And what would be your result now?
— 1.90 m. Maybe 2.00 m , definitely no more.
— That is, Maria Lasitskene could not have been defeated?
— She would have won against me!<