Javier Sotomayor: 10 Facts You Didn’t Know About The Legend

If you are or have ever been a fan of track and field games, especially high jump, then the name ‘Javier Sotomayor’ definitely rings a bell. The Cuban born is a retired track and field athlete who while active, set and broke many records in the men’s high jump.

While representing his home country, Cuba, he was part of games such as the Olympics, World Championships, Pan American Games, and a few others. Javier not only participated in these games but made sure that he ended the event victorious.

He was active for less than 2 decades but within the period, he won a lot of titles and Gold medals. He also clinched a couple of silver medals but one of his most notable feats is winning 3 straight Pan American Games titles.

Here Are Things You Never Knew About The Legendary Javier Sotomayor

1. Early Life of Javier Sotomayor

Born on the 13th day of October in 1967, Javier Sotomayor Sanabria was welcomed into the Limonar area of Matanzas, Cuba. He probably never imagined himself as a living legend in decades to come as his parents weren’t some sort of big shots in society then.

Born to father Gabriel Sotomayor who worked as a sugar factory maintenance man and a day-care worker mother, Aurora Sanabria, he grew up in an average home setting. He attended Antonio Maceo primary school and then went on to continue to pursue his dreams at Matanzas Sports Initiation School following his interest in sporting activities.

2. High Jump Wasn’t Initially His First Choice

A very tall young man, Javier was sent by his parents to the sporting high school so he could play basketball. He, however, personally had interests in track games as he idolized runner Alberto Juantorena.

Fortunately and unfortunately, Sotomayor never got to professionally play basketball nor was he able to run. He eventually began to participate in high jump events soon after he celebrated his first decade on earth.

Courtesy of his uncles who saw his competitive and sporting tendencies on time and decided to help him to cue into it. Additionally, while still in primary school, he was discovered by Carmelo Benitez who was a talent recruiter. Testing his ability to jump, Carmelo helped the young athlete discover his destined path.

3. Javier Sotomayor Had Acrophobia

Growing up, Sanabria had a serious fear of heights. Further explaining how unnatural it was that he finally chose the high jump is this fact. Given. At the time he began his journey, he was afraid of heights.

It took about 4 years for the ‘King of Heights’ as he was called to finally open up to the thought of being a jumper. First, he had to be convinced after being made to jump several rods.

Javier went through therapy and psychological preparations before he could fully optimize his talent. He had to train and practice hard and he undertook exercises that helped him eventually overcome the fear.

4. Let’s Take a Brief Look at His Career

As earlier stated, Soto only began to take the high jump seriously at the age of 14 and when he did he cleared 2 meters. By 1983, he finished the year with the best record of 2.15 m. By the next year, Soto had set a junior world record of 2.33 meters.

Over the following years, the athlete went on to achieve heights unimaginably, literally and figuratively. He became so good that by 1988 he set his first world record and by 1989 and 1993, he beat the records.

In the 1990s the high jumper had clinched so many medals and awards and was well on his way to being the longest-serving high jumping record holder. Sotomayor participated in both IAAF indoors and outdoors high jump activities. He was part of the Olympic Games, and also competed in Pan American Games.

5. He Trained Under the Watchful Eyes of Legends

The legendary Javier Sotomayor was trained by legends in the sporting world. He initially had the rare privilege of being molded by Jose Godoy Sanchez. However, he went through intense training from different coaches from the moment he was discovered.

His first coach in Limonar, Carmelo Benitez influenced to a great extent, his love for the sport. Moving on, he worked with the likes of Remigio, Jose Anacleto Espinosa Reyes, Jose Luis Nocedo.

While in Havana, he had two great coaches who greatly shaped his mind to always want to win. He owes a lot of his achievements today to Godoy and Guillermo.

6. Did You Know that He Supposedly Tested Positive For Several Drug Tests?

In 1999, the King of Heights tested positive for cocaine during the Pan American Games. He argued that he was innocent and even the then Cuban president supported him claiming his test result was a set-up by the Cuban-American mafia.

The case underwent three months of hearing where the athlete upheld his innocence but the panel initially upheld their 2-year ban. However, after a severe appeal, it was reduced to a year by the IAAF.

By September 2001, Javier Sotomayor tested positive for another drug test during a training camp. It wasn’t cocaine he tested positive for this time, though. In this case, he tested positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone.

Again, he claimed to be innocent and argued that there must have been an issue while handling his test. He failed to gain serious backing from his country this time though. In the wake of this second test result, Soto’s 4th place finish in the last World Championship was disqualified.

7. Did Drug Use Cause His Early Retirement?

6 feet 4 inches Cuban high jumper, Javier announced in September of 2001 that he was retiring. Although this came after his controversial second positive drug test result, he claimed his retirement had nothing to do with that.

In an interview 3 years later in 2004, he said that his injuries forced his early retirement. Suffering from an Achilles tendon problem, his performance became less than par and reduced his ability to jump as well as he’s known to.

It will be remembered that in 1997, he had undergone treatment for knee and heel injuries. He was however certified fit to continue his journey, but, it seemed like that wasn’t the case following the athlete’s sudden retirement.

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8. Upon Retirement, Javier Sotomayor Founded the Salsa Mayor Group

In the wake of Javier’s retirement, he went back to one of his hobbies; music. He founded the Salsa Mayor musical group and spends a lot of his spare time there. Additionally, the retired sportsman joined the National Commission for the Attention of Athletes as the vice president.

He is seen as a mentor who advises new high jump figures and also doubles as the spokesperson for the Cuban Athletics Federation.

9. He is a Father of Four

Though unmarried, 57 year old Javier Sotomayor is the father of 4 boys. One of his sons is identified as Javier Sotomayor Garcia who also has a stint in the high jump. It was known that the father of four was engaged to Amaya Gonzalez whom he shares a lot in common with.

However, he is married to Maria del Carmen Garcia who is a fellow high jumper from Cuba.

10. Javier Sotomayor is the Current World Record Holder

He currently holds a World Record of 2.45 meters which was achieved at the 1992 Olympic Championship. He has been recognized as the most dominant high jumper capable of beating his own record and clearing 8 feet.

Soto achieved a record of 2.45 meters outdoors and 2.43 meters indoors. He also has 1 Gold medal in the Olympic games held in Barcelona. The Cuban also won a silver medal in Sydney and has 6 world titles, 4 of which were in indoor games.

Complete profile of Javier Sotomayor