The main objective of Cuban rowers is to obtain Olympic medals during the 30th Summer Games to be held in London.

After attempts in Barcelona 1992, Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008, with 5th, 7th and 6th places respectively, the medal now lies in the single (1x) open weight by Angel Fournier.

The 25 year old rower from the eastern province of Guantanamo obtained an Olympic ticket to London last year during the World Championships in Bled, Slovenia.

He obtained a Gold medal during the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara Games.

“Up until now, the plans outlined by the athlete from Guantanamo is underway according to scheduled, he was training in Mexico and is programmed to compete in three high level competitions”, said Angel Luis Garcia, National Rowing Commissioner.

Before arriving to the London Olympics scheduled for July 27th to August 12th, Fournier should participate in the World Cup in Belgrade, Serbia from May 5th to the 7th; Lucerne, Switzerland from May 26th to the 28th and Munich, Germany from June 15th to the 17th.

Yunior Perez and Manuel Suarez winners in the double (2x) light are also expected to get medals this year in the Pre-Olympic competitions in Tigre, Argentina after the change in crew achieving Silver in the continental Guadalajara games where Perez rowed with Eyder Batista.

The other two crews classified by Cuba are Yariulvis Cobas, open weight and lightweight pairs Yaima Velazquez Yoslaine Dominguez who continues their training in Cuba.

They obtained tickets to the Pre-Olympic competitions in Tigre where they obtained Gold and Bronze, respectively.

Perez and Batista finished in 6th place in Beijing; Ismael Carbonell,
Arnaldo Rodriguez and Roberto “Waco” Ojeda finished 5th place and Mayra
Gonzalez was 7th, first in the final B in the open single in Sydney.

They all agree that the outcome of the internal control of the pre selection is encouraging, but the British capital where each competition is important.

To finish among the top 6 that will compete for medals will be a great success.

Afterwards, anything can happen, with the objective of obtaining the first Olympic medal in London.