Cuban Sotomayor happy after gaining the Sports Legend Award

The universal record holder in men´s high jump (2.45m), Cuban Javier Sotomayor, said he was happy with the Sports Legend Award to be granted to him today by the Spanish sports newspaper As.

In statements to Prensa Latina (PL), Sotomayor confessed to be surprised and proud with the designation, because three years ago he was in charge of delivering the prize to the also high jumper Ruth Beitia, from Spain.

The Barcelona 1992 Olympic champion remarked that the award constitutes recognition of his sporting results, especially because after so many years of retirement he is still present.

On the durability of his records, Sotomayor acknowledged that after the passage of time this becomes more relevant, because currently athletes have better conditions to overcome their performance, including the application of science and new technologies to training.

The outstanding Cuban athlete also owns the world indoor record with 2.43 meters, achieved in the Hungarian city of Budapest on March 4, 1989.