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.
Be very strong... be very methodical in your life if you want to be a champion.
I am always fighting inside the Council to get the message across that at each competition venue, we should send somebody to inspect and to make sure the athletes will be looked after in a correct manner.
I believe the Athletes Commission has an important role at this moment. We need to protect the image of athletics all over the world.
I go to schools and give lectures and advice to junior athletes all over the country.
I got involved in athletics during physical education lessons at school.
I love music, and outside of work my family keeps me very busy, I have five children to keep track of.
I run in practically every single road race in my country, 5k, 10k just to promote the sport.
I think it trains my spirit, trains my ability to live my life, given me the ability to my character and my life.
I try to promote sport as way of life, as a way of improving your life expectancy.
I was a basketball player first then in 1971, I became a track and field runner.
If we carry on filling up the calendar, we keep on pushing the athlete, we shorten the athletes longevity. The risk is to shorten a career that could have lasted 10 years because the athlete is burnt out.
If we want to make money through the system, we have to make sure that it is the athletes that are the first to benefit.
In competition, in travelling, in training, in health and education and for us the medal is not the most important part.
In Cuba we use our champions to promote the sport.
My main point in this regard was to compete for my country and my people and to receive the support of the entire Cuban society, to carry my flag in whatever competition I was in, the Olympic Games, Pan-American Games.
One of the main features of the Cuban Federation is to enjoy a close relationship with our athletes, we like to give them our full support.
So much has changed with the arrival of prize money, the Golden League. There are many things we didn't have in my time.
The ability of the Cuban is for spring sports: running fast, jumping, anything up to 800m, but nothing further than that!
The most important part of this is to prepare the athlete for life in general and then be able to compete.
Then I received support from the Government to compete for my country, and to represent Cuba in competition.
To educate youngsters and children against the dangers of taking drugs, against taking anything in the body which is not good for the athlete.
We are just not made up to be middle distance runners.
We do not use managers, we are the representatives of our athletes, and that is why I am deeply involved in athletics, I follow our athletes careers from start to finish, 100% all the way.
We make sure they get a good education, and only then may they go chasing medals.
We need to be aware of all aspects: To check how they travel, how they eat, the competition conditions.
We want to make sure our athletes have a future once their athletics careers are over.
We want to promote the great qualities of athletics - and maintain its integrity - all over the world.
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