RUN TO CUBA
U.S. TRIATHLETES’ FIRST STEPS IN LONG-FORBIDDEN COUNTRY
By Pete Williams
The 25 USA Triathlon athletes who made history in January by becoming the first American triathletes to compete in races in Havana, Cuba, came back raving about an experience that could open to a much larger contingent of Americans as early as 2016.
“I was worried going into it about security and logistics, but it was totally safe,” said Rocky Riviera, a 60-year-old software engineer from Boulder, Colorado. “I only hope we can stay longer next time.”
The U.S. contingent received five-night licenses to participate in the International Triathlon Union’s first sanctioned races in Cuba, which has been off limits to most Americans for more than 50 years. That was long enough to compete in the race, make history and get a taste of Cuban culture.
Cuba, in many respects, has been frozen in time for 50 years, and the U.S. contingent, which also included a coach and Barry Siff, President of the USA Triathlon Board of Directors, experienced challenges with telephone, Internet and communicating in an island nation where even now few speak English.
But that was more than offset by delicious, inexpensive cuisine, a generally well-organized race, and a warm welcome that included the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the awards ceremony.
“Hearing the national anthem was a very emotional experience for all of us,” said Jordan Graham, a 48-year-old software developer from Parker, Colorado. “There was no escaping the sense of history of what we were doing.”
Like the island nation itself, the Habana Camtri Triathlon in downtown Havana, a two-day event consisting of sprint, Olympic-distance and long-distance races, was a throwback to the early days of triathlon. Since the bike racks were blown over by the wind, athletes placed their bikes and gear on the ground. Sprint athletes competed on the first day in the rain and the swim start was a bit disorganized. There were no T-shirts for the sprint athletes, though there were finisher’s medals for everyone.
“It was like going back in time for triathlon,” Siff said. “But nobody went in there looking to set a PR; it was about the experience.”
“Most of us signed up for the sprint with the thought that our primary objective was to experience the country and its people,” said Kevin Flynn, a 61-year-old Chicago attorney.
40 USA TRIATHLON SPRING 2015
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