This Cuban athlete carried out an exploit at the Montreal games in 1976 when he won the 800 m middle distance and 400 m sprint, breaking the World record. What's more, he ran the 800 metres like the 400 - at a sprint.A fierce defender of the Cuban cause, Juantorena dedicated his victories to his mentor, Fidel Castro. It has to be said that sport is one of the instruments of Cuban politics. Champions 'defend the flag of the Revolutionary homeland.' This does not prevent exploits, nor diminish the quality of the athletes who, at the Montreal games carried off 13 medals for their Caribbean island, of which 6 were gold. Highly respected in his home country, Juantorena was to become deputy sports minister and president of the national athletics federation.