1. Overview
Ismael Borrero Molina is a Cuban Greco-Roman wrestler and coach. Born on January 6, 1992, in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, he is an Olympic gold medalist and a two-time World Champion. He notably won a gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in the 59 kg category and secured two gold medals at the World Wrestling Championships in 2015 and 2019. Following his competitive career, Borrero transitioned into coaching, joining the USA National Greco-Roman team in 2022.
2. Early life and background
Ismael Borrero Molina was born on January 6, 1992, in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.
3. Wrestling career
Ismael Borrero Molina is a prominent figure in Cuban Greco-Roman wrestling. He competed at a height of 63 in (160 cm) and a weight of 148 lb (67 kg). Throughout his career, he trained at the Cerro Pelado club in Havana. His competitive journey saw him participate in various weight classes and achieve significant international success across multiple major tournaments.
3.1. Weight classes
Borrero competed primarily in the 59 kg and 67 kg weight categories. Early in his career, he focused on the 59 kg (or 60 kg) class, competing in this category at the World Wrestling Championships in 2013, 2014, and 2015, and winning an Olympic gold medal in 2016. Later, he transitioned to the 67 kg category, competing in it at the 2019 World Wrestling Championships and the 2020 Summer Olympics.
3.2. Major international results
Borrero's career is marked by numerous medal-winning performances at major international wrestling competitions.
3.2.1. Olympic Games
Ismael Borrero Molina achieved his most notable success at the Olympic Games. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he won a gold medal in the men's 59 kg Greco-Roman event. He later represented Cuba at the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, where he competed in the 67 kg event.
3.2.2. World Wrestling Championships
Borrero has been a consistent performer at the World Wrestling Championships, securing two gold medals. He competed in the 59 kg (or 60 kg) weight category at the 2013, 2014, and 2015 World Championships. In 2015, he won a gold medal in the 59 kg event at the championships held in Las Vegas. He followed this with another gold medal in 2019, competing in the 67 kg event at the championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.
3.2.3. Pan American Games
At the Pan American Games, Borrero continued his winning streak. He earned a gold medal in the men's 67 kg Greco-Roman event at the 2019 Pan American Games held in Lima, Peru.
3.2.4. Central American and Caribbean Games
Borrero also achieved success at the Central American and Caribbean Games. He won a gold medal in the 59 kg event at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico.
3.3. Pan American Championships
Beyond multi-sport events, Borrero demonstrated his dominance at the Pan American Wrestling Championships. He notably won three consecutive gold medals in the Pan American Championships from 2012 to 2014.
4. Coaching career
In 2022, Ismael Borrero Molina transitioned from competitive wrestling to coaching. He moved to Colorado Springs, United States, to join the USA National Greco-Roman team as a Greco-Roman coach.
5. Personal life
Ismael Borrero Molina has pursued academic endeavors alongside his wrestling career. He is a student at the Universidad de las Ciencias de la Cultura Física y el Deporte in Havana, Cuba.