Then I received support from the Government to compete for my country, and to represent Cuba in competition.

Be very strong... be very methodical in your life if you want to be a champion.

The most important part of this is to prepare the athlete for life in general and then be able to compete.

We are just not made up to be middle distance runners.

You never know the limit of a human being.

And then you have the responsibility and the duty of being good examples to youngsters, not smoke, training hard, go to bed early, don't drink alcohol, don't take drugs, it's very important to have a policy for educating against doping.

I love music, and outside of work my family keeps me very busy, I have five children to keep track of.