Alberto Juantorena
(IOC)
Updated: 2007-07-27 08:36
Montreal, July 1976, Games of the XXI Olympiad. Men's athletics: Alberto JUANTORENA of Cuba and Alfonso DI GUIDA of Italy in action during the 400m semi-final. Credit: Getty Images/Tony Duffy
Other names: JUANTORENA DANGER, Alberto
Born: 3 December 1950
Birthplace: Santiago de Cuba (Cuba)
Nationality: Cuba
Sport: Athletics
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Munich 1972
Montreal 1976
Moscow 1980
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 2
Other results:
Pan American Games
Silver: 3(75,79)
El Caballo
In 1972 Alberto Juantorena was narrowly eliminated in the semifinals of the 400m. He was unbeaten over the next two years. After two foot operations, he emerged as the favourite for the 1976 Olympics. Before that event was contested, Juantorena, who was known as El Caballo (The Horse) because of his three-metre stride, entered the 800m.
Although he had recorded the second-fastest time of the pre-Olympic season, Juantorena had little experience in the more tactical 800. In the Olympic final, he led throughout most of the race and, surprisingly, scored a decisive victory.
Three days later, he powered past Fred Newhouse in the last twenty metres of the 400m final and won his second gold medal. Juantorena is the only runner in Olympic history to achieve a 400/800 double victory. He was also the first runner from a non-English-speaking country to win either event.
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