Born: 14 August 1972 (Havana, Cuba)
Biography:
Yamilé Aldama Pozo (Arabic: يميلي الداما; born 14 August 1972) is a Cuban-born triple jumper. She represented Cuba until 2003, Sudan from 2004 to 2010, then Great Britain from 2011 onwards. A four-time Olympian (2000–12), she won a silver medal at the 1999 World Championships and a gold medal at the 2012 World Indoor Championships.
Life and career
Aldama was born in Havana, Cuba, and initially represented her country of birth. At first, she competed in high jump and heptathlon events, but in 1994 she tried triple jump and two years later qualified for the Olympic team for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Unfortunately, she was unable to compete in the Olympics due to an injury.
Undeterred, Aldama continued her training and reached the final at the 1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships, finishing in sixth place. Her breakthrough came in 1999 when she won a silver medal at the World Championships in Athletics in Seville, Spain. This achievement solidified her position as an elite triple jumper.
In 2000, she represented Cuba at the Sydney Olympics and finished in fourth position. This success propelled Aldama onto the world stage as one of the top triple jumpers of her time. However, her life took a dramatic turn in 2001 when she married Andrew Dodds, a Scottish television producer, and decided to relocate to the United Kingdom.
Following her marriage, Aldama applied for British citizenship. Unfortunately, her husband’s involvement in a drug trafficking operation led to his imprisonment for 15 years. Despite this difficult situation, Aldama stood by her husband and decided to continue residing in the United Kingdom.
As she had not lived in Britain before her marriage, Aldama had to wait for the mandatory three-year period to achieve British citizenship. Nevertheless, she made her intentions clear to represent Great Britain at the 2004 Summer Olympics, receiving support from David Moorcroft, the then Chief Executive of UK Athletics.
However, her application for a British passport faced challenges. The British passport agency refused to expedite Aldama’s application as she had moved to the UK in November 2001, making her ineligible for a passport until November 2004, three months after the Olympics.
Facing this setback, Aldama sought another country to represent. She received offers from Spain, Italy, and the Czech Republic but ultimately decided to switch allegiance to Sudan. After acquiring Sudanese citizenship on 23 January 2004, she went on to represent Sudan at the 2004 Summer Olympics, finishing in fifth place.
In addition to her Olympic performances, Aldama achieved further success at the World Championships, finishing in fourth place in 2005. However, she missed out on the finals at the 2007 and 2009 World Championships and the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Finally, in 2011, Aldama achieved her goal of representing Great Britain. She became a British citizen and competed for her adopted country at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. At the age of 39, Aldama won a gold medal at the World Indoor Championships, further cementing her status as a top triple jumper.
Aldama’s career spanned over two decades, during which she faced numerous challenges and setbacks. Despite the obstacles, she remained dedicated to her sport and showcased exceptional talent and determination.
Her role in women’s history is significant, as she has been an inspiration to countless young athletes around the world. Aldama’s ability to overcome adversity and adapt to changing circumstances serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and resilience.
Awards:
– Silver medalist at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics.
– Gold medalist at the 2012 World Indoor Championships.
– Four-time Olympian (2000–2012).
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