Alberto Juantorena leaves the track at the 1983 World Championships (© Getty Images)
In the statistical history of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, the dates Sunday 7 August 1983 and Saturday 31 August 2007 hold a special significance at least for one illustrious athletics family.
Take a look at the results lists of the Decathlon at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Osaka, and back in 18th position you will find a famous name which resonates with all true athletics fans - Alberto Juantorena.
For those who remember the era of ‘White Lightning’ or ‘The Horse’, Alberto Juantorena of Cuba means the legendary Olympic champion in the 400 and the 800 metres in Montreal 1976, the World record breaking athlete who with his sprint / middle distance combination seemed at the time to have hailed the beginning of a new era and style of 800m running.
Juantorena, 56, now an IAAF Council Member, was also one of the favourites to take the 800m title when the inaugural World Championships in Athletics took place in 1983, but the beginning of that new era for our sport spelt the end of the Cuban’s career.
Successfully qualifying for the semi-final stage by finishing in second place in his preliminary round heat on Sunday 7 August 1983, Juantorena having crossed the finish-line in Helsinki’s Olympic stadium caught a foot on the curb of the track and twisted his ankle severely. Triumph turned instantly to tragedy as he left the track in agony, carried out on a stretcher. A great career had entered and exited its World Championship stage in just one race, as his injury prevented his start in the semi-final.
This weekend (Friday 31 Aug / Saturday 1 Sep 2007) the name of Alberto Juantorena returned to a start-list of the World Championships in Athletics. It was hardly a new young beginning as Alberto Juantorena Junior, the son of the 1970s legend, is 30 years of age, but this was the decathlete’s first appearance at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics.
“It was very emotional to compete in a big international championship in a full stadium. I have never taken part in similar event even as a spectator. It is the greatest moment in my life”, said Alberto Jnr, who was born in 1977, and began athletics at the age of 8.
“My first discipline was High Jump when I was between 15 and 22yrs. But I turned to 400 metres Hurdles because of an ankle injury, and then began competing in Decathlon at the age of 25 because I did not manage to dip under 50 seconds in the hurdles event.”
It was quite natural to follow in the footsteps of his father.
“The fact that I am the son of a great champion influenced my choice to begin with athletics. It was quite natural for me to be become an athlete. Athletics is my world. I have just finished my studies in Physical Education and I would like to continue working as a coach in the future.”
He admits that bearing the name Juantorena has sometimes been a burden for him.
“The fact that I bear the name Alberto Juantorena has sometimes put pressure on me. It happened that I did not achieve good results, someone felt disappointed.”
While Alberto Jnr’s 18th place finish with 7657 points will hardly cause Roman Sebrle to shake with fear, the fact that he completed his World Championship campaign brings a closure to the memories of his father’s accident of 1983. The name Alberto Juantorena retains its magic for all and it is most welcome to see any result rather than the DNS (Did Not Start) which marked his father’s last entry in the results for the semi final stage of the 800m in 1983.
Diego Sampaolo and Chris Turner for the IAAF
