Alberto Juantorena

2.1. Birth and early background

Alberto Juantorena Danger was born on December 3, 1950, in Santiago de Cuba, a city in southeastern Cuba. While December 3, 1950, is widely accepted, some sources indicate birth dates such as November 21, 1950, or even November 11, 1950. Standing at 75 in ^{(190 cm)} and weighing 185 lb ^{(84 kg)}, Juantorena initially showed significant potential in basketball.

2.2. Transition to athletics

At the age of 14, Juantorena was considered a potential basketball star and was sent to a state basketball school, eventually becoming a member of the national team. Despite his focus on basketball, he had also been a regional high-school champion in the 800 meters and 1500 meters events. His exceptional running talent was ultimately discovered by Polish track coach Zygmunt Zabierzowski, who convinced him to pursue athletics seriously. Juantorena was receptive to this change, reportedly stating that he considered himself a "bad" basketball player and admired the Cuban sprinter Enrique Figuerola. This pivotal decision marked the beginning of his illustrious career in track and field.

3.1. Early career and development

Just one year after committing to athletics, Juantorena reached the semifinals of the 400 meters event at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, missing a place in the final by a mere 0.05 seconds. He continued to develop, securing a gold medal at the 1973 Summer Universiade in Moscow and a silver at the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City, both in the 400 meters. Juantorena maintained an unbeaten streak in 1973 and 1974. However, his progress was interrupted in 1975 when he underwent two operations on his foot, which impacted his performance. It was only in 1976 that he seriously began competing in the 800 meters. His coach, Zabierzowski, initially persuaded him to try the 800 meters by making him believe that other runners needed a pacemaker.

3.2. 1976 Montreal Olympics

The 1976 Montreal Olympics marked the pinnacle of Juantorena's career. He entered the 800 meters Olympic final and dominated the race, leading for most of its duration. He ultimately secured the gold medal in a new world record time of 1:43.50. This victory made him the first non-English speaking athlete to win Olympic gold in the 800 meters. Just three days later, he achieved another momentous victory, winning the 400 meters final and setting a low-altitude world record of 44.26 seconds. By accomplishing this historic double, Juantorena became the first athlete since Paul Pilgrim at the 1906 Intercalated Games to win both the 400 meters and 800 meters in a single Olympic event, and the only man to do so at an officially recognized Olympic Games. His performance was widely celebrated and positioned him as a symbolic figure of athletic success for Caribbean nations.

3.3. Post-Olympic career

After his historic triumph in Montreal, Juantorena, affectionately known in Cuba as El Caballo, continued his impressive career despite facing significant challenges due to injuries. In 1977, he broke his own 800 meters world record, running a time of 1:43.44 at the World University Games in Sofia, Bulgaria. The same year, he won both the 400 meters and 800 meters at the 1977 IAAF World Cup in Düsseldorf, West Germany. The 400 meters race at the World Cup was notable for its controversy, as the initial race, in which Juantorena finished third, was re-run a day later after he successfully protested that he could not hear the starter's gun. The re-run featured an epic duel with his rival, Kenyan runner Mike Boit, a contest that had not occurred at the previous year's Olympics due to the African countries' boycott.

Juantorena had been born with flat feet, a condition that led to chronic foot and back problems, requiring corrective surgery in 1977. In 1978, he remained unbeaten in the 400 meters, though he experienced his first defeat in the 800 meters. Injuries, particularly hamstring issues, continued to hinder his training and racing in the lead-up to the 1980 Moscow Olympics. There, he narrowly missed a medal in the 400 meters, finishing fourth. His final major international appearance was at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki, Finland, where he suffered a severe injury in the first round of the 800 meters, breaking his foot and tearing ligaments after stepping on the inside of the track. Despite this, he began training with the aim of competing in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. However, Cuba's participation in the 1984 Summer Olympics boycott prevented his last chance to compete at the Olympic Games. Instead, he participated in the Friendship Games, an alternative event for Eastern bloc countries held in Moscow, where he shared the gold medal in the 800 meters with Ryszard Ostrowski.

7.1. International competitions

7.2. World rankings

Juantorena was consistently ranked among the world's best in both the 400 meters and 800 meters sprint events for a decade, from 1973 to 1982, according to the experts at Track & Field News.

7.3. Best performances

The tables below compile Alberto Juantorena's personal best times and notable performances in the 400 meters and 800 meters, including his world records and highest world rankings for each year.