V 10 N. 34 El Caballo

Let's start with the picture.  Here is Alberto Juantorena in his skivvies at the practice track in Montreal (Centre Claude Robillard) in 1976.
Looks well toned but not ripped by today's standards.

A good friend who wishes to remain anonymous has sent this in and asks that it not be reproduced.

Said that in prep for the 800 that day he had done 3 x 600 about 1:21.  Had a Polish coach Zabierzowski  there timing with another Polish coach.

His campadres:

 Leandro Civil on left ran 800 at Montreal.  Eliminated in semis.
Civil had the following podium finishes at major championships: 2nd in the 1975 Pan American Games 800 metres. In the 1971 Pan American Games 800 metres he finished fifth and in the 1979 Pan American Games 800 metres he finished sixth.

Personal Best: 800 1:45.88 (1976).

 Luis Medina Eliminated in first rounds of 800 and 1500  1:50.15 and 3:42.71
He had won the Pan Am Games 800 and was 3rd in the 1500 in 1975.

Juantorena's Bio from Sports-reference.com

Alberto Juantorena, known as El Caballo, or The Horse, began as a basketball player but was discovered as a sprinter and competed at the 1972 Olympics, making the semi-finals of the 400 metres. In 1973, Juantorena won the 400 at the Universiade and in 1975 won two silver medals - 400 metres and 4x400 metres relay (with [Eddy Gutierrez], Carlos Ãlvarez, and DÃmaso Alfonso) - at the Pan American Games. In 1976 he increased his range and won the 400 and 800 at the Montreal Olympics, the 800 in a world-record time of 1:43.50 and the 400 in a low-altitude world record of 44.26. In 1977, Juantorena won the 400 and 800 at the first World Cup of Athletics, and in that year set another world record in the 800, running 1:43.44 in Sofia at the Universiade.  In 1979 he won again silver in 400 metres and bronze with the 4x400 metres relay team (with Carlos Ãlvarez and the non-Olympians Pedro Tanis and Frank Montiah at the Pan American Games. At the Central American and Caribbean Games, Juantorena won the 400 in both 1974 and 1978, and the 800 in 1978 and 1982.

He was World Ranked #1 in the 400 in 1974, 1976, 1977, and 1978, and in the 800 in 1976-77, and was voted World Athlete of the Year in 1976 and 1977. Juantorena competed at the 1980 Olympics with less success and competed at the first World Athletics Championships in 1983, where he broke his foot after finishing his heat in the first round of the 800 when he stepped on the inner track border, after which he retired from competition. He has since become the Vice-Minister of Sports in Cuba.

Personal Bests: 400 44.26 (1976); 8001:43.44 (1977).

1972 Munich 400m   Round 1  45.94   (1)
                     Quarters            45.96   (2)
                     Semis                46.07   (5)

1976 Montreal 400m  Round 1  47.89   (3)
                      Quarters           45.92   (2)
                      Semis               45.10   (1)
                      Final                 44.26   (1)

1976   800m    Round 1  1:47.15 (1)
                       Semis     1:45.88 (1)
                       Final       1:43.50 (1) WR

1976   4x400    Final       3:03.81 (7)  44.7 split

1980 Moscow 400m  Round 1     46.98  (3)
                                Quarters    46.23  (2)
                                Semis        45.95  (3)
                                Final          45.09  (4)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtsTHhep_DA  Here's the double on youtube. Thanks to Steve Smith for the link.

Alberto's nephew  Osmany Juantorena Portundo was also an Olympian playing volleyball  in 2016  for Italy.
Same weight 187 but 6' 6.5"

"Juantourena ran 7 races in 7 days covering 2.5 miles in 8 minutes and 15 seconds, give or take a few seconds...mile split 3:18 and pace was about 18.18mph...I always wondered how much weight he lost...looks pretty skinny there...I saw the semi where he beat Wolhouter...he had a long stride...met him in Japan, got a pix but lord knows where that is...Russ"

In retrospect, our sport had very low fashion standards compared to others. I like that about T&F.

SVM

See the next post for a continuation of this article.