The breath held before the shot, the placement of the feet on the starting block according to the height of the sprinter, the concentration to start on time and not in false, the use of the arms, the starting angle, the second breath held to redoubling efforts with 40 meters to go, plus Rafael Fortún’s natural gifts for speed, did the miracle.

He was born in the former Estrada Palma Street no. 73, in Camagüey city, on August 5th, 1919. Son of Rafael and Francisca. To earn his living, he worked in the printing press of the newspaper “La Región”, where he managed to become a typesetter.

His beginnings as an athlete began in competitions at the Railway Club. Barefoot performed amazingly in the high jump. He decided after that experience to specialize as a short distance runner, following suggestions from various sports experts. He always trained running barefoot, in the Casino Campestre and its surroundings, until the priest Pedro Jaime Massaguer gave him his first running shoes.

Laurels

He has been a three-time champion at the Pan American Sports Games and a three-time starter at the Central American and Caribbean Games. He achieved a total of five gold and three silver medals.

In the Inter Antilles Games held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1944, he achieved bronze medals in the 200-meter race and in the high jump – with a mark of 1.88 meters.

In December 1946 he was part of the Cuban delegation to the V Central American and Caribbean Games, in Barranquilla, Colombia, in which he set a speed record in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.4 seconds.

Also in the London Olympics he won the 200 meters with 21.6 seconds and finished with a silver medal in the 4 x 100 meters relay. At the VI Central American and Caribbean Games, held in Guatemala during February and March 1950, he improved his previous record by running 100 meters in 10.3 seconds.

In March 1954, at the VII Central American and Caribbean Games, held in Mexico City, he won a gold medal in the 100 meter dash with 10.5 seconds, and a silver medal in the 4 x 100 meter relay race, and Chicago in 1959, where he prevailed in the 100-meter dash.

Before that third triumph in the Central American and Caribbean Games, Fortún had successfully participated in two Olympic Games; the first in 1948 in London, where he reached the semifinals, and in 1952 in Helsinki.

Considered the best short distance runner in America, he remained the absolute champion of the 100 and 200 meter dash for eight years, from 1946 to 1954. He held his national record of 100 meters – of 10.3 seconds – from 1950 to 1960, and the 200-meter dash – of 21.2 seconds – from 1951 to 1965; for fourteen years

Decided for Cuba

Fifteen days before the Buenos Aires games, he had been laid off from his modest position at the Ministry of Public Works, so on his way through San Juan -on his return trip to Cuba- he thought of settling in Puerto Rico, since there he was offered advantageous opportunities: a scholarship for university studies in mechanical engineering or physical culture, with accommodation and financial aid, and a good contract to participate in some sporting events. He decided to return to Cuba earlier to visit his family, and when he arrived in Havana he learned that the irritated public opinion and the press had forced the Minister of Public Works to declare that his dismissal had been a mistake, and to employ him again, in a better paid position. Rafael Fortún then decided to stay in his country.

Significance of the Caribbean Cyclone

He passed his experiences to new figures ​​of Cuban athletics such as Enrique Figuerola, Miguelina Cobián, Alberto Juantorena. The Camagüey Sports Palace bears his name Rafael Fortún. A deserved recognition of that glory of Cuban sport, three-time champion in the Pan American Sports Games and also a three-time starter in the Central American and Caribbean Games.

He was chosen among the 100 best Cuban athletes of the 20th century; and inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Central American and Caribbean Athletics Confederation. He is a three-time champion in Pan American Sports Games and also a three-time starter in Central American and Caribbean Games.

On June 22nd, 1982, at the age of 62, he died in Camagüey city, in an odd battle against cancer.

Bibliography

El Camagüeyano newspaper. 1954

Rafael Fortún, Encyclopedia of History and Culture of the Caribbean.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García