Cuban Judo Athletes Seek Asylum in Chile: A Leap for Liberty

In a dramatic turn of events, two Cuban judo athletes have fled their national team’s concentration in Santiago, Chile, during the ongoing Pan American Judo Championship, in a bid for a better future and personal freedom. The unexpected move has shaken up the sporting event and drawn international attention.

Héctor San Román: The First to Escape

Héctor San Román, a 24-year-old judo talent from Cuba’s national team, admits his focus was not entirely on the sports tournament. In an exclusive conversation with 247SportsNews, San Román revealed, “I needed to feel free and be able to do my sports at 100%.”

Eluding detection in the early hours of Sunday, San Román slipped away from his team’s hotel with the help of a friend andabsence noticeably. The judoka expressed mixed emotions about his decision, revealing, “One of the things that hurts a little is that I could not say goodbye to my relatives. Now to see them it will be a bit more difficult, but well,” said the athlete.

Naomis Elizarde: Following San Román’s Path

Naomis Elizarde, a 27-year-old judoka, also saw the Pan American Judo Championship as an opportunity to escape Cuba. She understood San Román’s absence and, after noticing his departure, decided to follow his path. Elizarde shared, “I know that in Chile it could have more opportunities. In the beginning, I didn’t even knew but after seeing some things here, I said ‘Well, this is the opportunity’‘.”

Like San Román, Elizarde contacted a childhood friend residing in Chile and arranged her escape with a coded signal – a blue heart with a key.

Legal Support and the Road Ahead

Mijail Bonito, the lawyers representing both athletes, confirmed that they are safe and plan to seek refugee status in Chile. “We are going to proceed tomorrow to make the request for recognition of the refugee status,” Bonito told 247SportsNews. He also acknowledged the risks the athletes face: “They will not be able to return to Cuba, there are sanctions for those who leave the delegations. Let’s do a whole support network.”

Did You Know?

• Héctor San Román’s decision to escape was made before the tournament, and he competed knowing that he would eventually leave.
• Naomis Elizarde only told her friend about her plans to seek asylum and didn’t inform her mother, whom she hasn’t seen for seven months.

Pro Tips for Aspiring Athletes

• Pursue personal growth and opportunities beyond immediate competition.
• Seek advice from mentors and professionals to make informed decisions about your future.
• Take calculated risks to chase your dreams, but always consider the potential consequences.

In a display of courage and determination, Héctor San Román and Naomis Elizarde embarked on a new journey, trading in their sports jerseys for the fight for personal freedom and better opportunities. As their stories unfold, one thing remains certain: the Pan American Judo Championship brought more than just a sporting event to Santiago – it triggered a call for change and drew the world’s attention to the aspirations and struggles of Cuban athletes.

Sources: T13.cl

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