Cuban Yarelis Barrios Castañeda is the main representative of the island in the discus throw event for women. Her performance during the year 2011 ratified her quality as one of the best and most consistent discus throwers in the world.

How would you describe the year 2011?

“It was a good year despite I commenced it with a lesion, but thanks to my physical therapist and my couch Raúl Calderón, I could made headway and obtained the gold medal of the Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, México, where I achieved the best mark of my sporting career with 66,40 meters which constituted a record for the competition. I also obtained the bronze medal in the World championship held in Daegu, South Korea.”

Which is the main goal for the current year 2012?

“My goal is to obtain the title of the Olympic Games tournament in London. That is the common dream of any athlete. Moreover, I have thought to take a recess given I want to be a mother, and the best moment could be certainly after obtaining a gold medal and finishing in that way that fist stage of my sporting career.”

How is your training going on?

“All is ok, I have commenced this year without lesions. Therefore, I am feeling in good form. Besides, I am fulfilling perfectly the first part of my training and hoping to conclude this stage quite near of my best results as well as reaching or being near of the 68 meters during the second stage of my training.”

Once you were in London. Who could be your main rivals?

“Life has taught me that none of my rivals prior the main competition would be the ones near me in the podium. However, athletes from China and German Nadine Mullerel are the most consistent ones in this sport discipline, although there is something happening now which is the fact that the Asian athletes would not be in their territory, therefore, their competition would be very difficult, so, I´ll have to fight for the gold medal in London.”

Is there any message for the Cuban Fans?

“I just want them to trust in Yarelys who once again will put the name of the Cuban woman on high and will return with the Olympic title of this sport discipline.”

By Yodeni Masó Aguila (a journalist student)