Cuba commemorated this Sunday the 32nd anniversary of Javier Sotomayor’s historic 2.45-meter high jump, a world record set on July 27, 1993, in Salamanca, Spain, that remains unbroken and cements his status as the only man to ever clear eight feet.
On his Facebook account, the legendary athlete expressed gratitude for the enduring affection of his compatriots after more than three decades, sharing his appreciation from his beloved hometown of Matanzas.
The National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (INDER) reaffirmed the national pride embodied by this achievement, while Norland Rosendo, director of the Cuban News Agency, hailed it as an eternal milestone in Cuban sports history.
Sotomayor made history as the first athlete to jump 2.43 meters outdoors (Salamanca, 1988), improved to 2.44m in 1989, and ultimately reached the standing world record of 2.45m. His career boasts more jumps over 2.40m than any other high jumper in history.
Experts predict his record will endure for years due to its exceptional nature, contrasting it with fleeting challenges from athletes like Mutaz Essa Barshim and Bohdan Bondarenko, who reached 2.43m in 2014 but fell short of the Cuban’s mark.
Beyond his technical legacy, Sotomayor claimed Olympic gold at Barcelona 1992, two outdoor world titles, four indoor world championships, and three Pan American Games crowns. His sportsmanship earned him the 1993 Prince of Asturias Award for Sports.
Now an enduring global icon of high jumping, Sotomayor recently received the «Ibero-American Sports Legend 2025» honor at Madrid’s inaugural GLORIA Awards, recognizing his historic impact on regional athletics.
Ultimately, the 2.45-meter record transcends sport as a symbol of Cuban excellence and an enduring inspiration for generations.