AREQUIPA, Peru – Luis Mario Miranda León, a star of Cuban sports, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 65. Originally from Santiago de Cuba, he stood out as one of the best wrestlers on the island in the 100-kilogram division.
Alexander Alemán Osuna, coach of the El Salvador national wrestling team, shared the news through a Facebook post without detailing the cause of death.
“Mourning in the struggle of Santiago and Cuba. This morning (September 10) one of the greats of the struggle of Santiago passed away (…) Our most heartfelt condolences to his entire family, to the family of the struggle of Santiago and to all of us who had the privilege of being his friend,” wrote Alemán Osuna.
After joining the EIDE Capitán Orestes Acosta in 1974, Luis Mario Miranda León won one of his first medals, a gold one, during the National School Games, which helped him to be selected for the Escuela Superior de Perfeccionamiento Atlético (ESPA).
Throughout his career, the Santiago native competed in three types of wrestling (freestyle, Greco-Roman and sambo).
Among his main sporting achievements are: the gold medal in freestyle at the 1981 Pan American Championships held in Mexico. He also reached the top of the podium in the sambo wrestling event at the Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, and bronze in freestyle wrestling at the same regional multi-sport event.
In 1984, the dictator Fidel Castro joined the Soviet socialist bloc in boycotting the Olympic Games that were to be held in the United States. With this decision, the ruler prevented many athletes from the island from participating in the prestigious sporting event.
Miranda León, who was at his best as a wrestler between 1980 and 1984, was one of those affected by the Cuban regime’s policy. He was unable to attend the Olympic event or test himself against the best in the world.
The outstanding Cuban wrestler officially retired from the sport in 1985, although he continued to be involved as a trainer. To date, the official Cuban press has not commented on his death.
