Alberto Juantorena

Alberto Juantorena Danger (born 3 December, 1950) is a former Cuban track athlete. At the 1976 Summer Olympics, "White Lightning" became the first and so far only athlete to win both the 400 and 800 m Olympic titles.

Born in Santiago de Cuba, Juantorena first played basketball, until he was discovered by a Polish track coach, Zygmunt Zabierzowski, who convinced him to start running. Only a year later, Juantorena was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 400 m event at the Munich Olympics (1972).

Juantorena became better known in the next years, winning a gold medal at the World University Games (1973) and a silver at the 1975 Pan American Games, both in the 400 m. He only seriously took up running the 800 m in 1976, so few thought he was a serious candidate for the Olympic gold that year. However, Juantorena made it to the Olympic final, and led the field for most of the race, eventually winning in a world record time of 1:43.50. Three days later, he also won the 400 m final, setting a low-altitude world record of 44.26.

Juantorena, now known at home as "El Caballo" (the horse), continued his career, although he would never reach the same level as in Montreal. He just missed out on a medal in the 400 m at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, placing fourth. At the 1983 World Championships, his last international appearance in a major event, he broke his foot when he stepped on the inside of the track after qualifying in the first round of the 800m.

Juantorena later served as the Vice Minister of Sports for Cuba.

External Links and References

* [http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?PAR_I_ID=42129 Alberto Juantorena at Olympic.org]
* [http://www2.iaaf.org/InsideIAAF/Structure/Council/Juantorena.html Alberto Juantorena at iaaf.org]

Persondata
NAME = Juantorena, Alberto
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Alberto Juantorena Danger
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Cuban track athlete
DATE OF BIRTH = 3 December, 1950
PLACE OF BIRTH = Santiago de Cuba
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =