Ready to rumble: Kids turn to wrestling in baseball-crazy Cuba

Published October 21, 2014
In this photo, students practice their sugar foot or staggered stance in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP
In this photo, students practice their sugar foot or staggered stance in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP
In this photo, 11-year-old Brian Rojas, center standing in gray shorts, watches other wrestlers practice their maneuvers as he waits his turn to try, in an auxiliary gym, in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP
In this photo, 11-year-old Brian Rojas, center standing in gray shorts, watches other wrestlers practice their maneuvers as he waits his turn to try, in an auxiliary gym, in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP
In this photo, young wrestlers Braimond Sanchez, from left, Raimel Lazaro and Junior Lazaro strike a pose for a photo, during a training session in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP
In this photo, young wrestlers Braimond Sanchez, from left, Raimel Lazaro and Junior Lazaro strike a pose for a photo, during a training session in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP
In this photo, Junior Lazaro, left, stretches in preparation for a wrestling training session in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP
In this photo, Junior Lazaro, left, stretches in preparation for a wrestling training session in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP
In this photo, young wrestlers run their laps at the start of a training session in the park in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP
In this photo, young wrestlers run their laps at the start of a training session in the park in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP
In this photo, two young wrestlers compete during a practice session during a training session in an auxiliary gym, in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP
In this photo, two young wrestlers compete during a practice session during a training session in an auxiliary gym, in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP
In this photo, a young wrestler smiles for the camera while training at a park in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP
In this photo, a young wrestler smiles for the camera while training at a park in Old Havana, Cuba. — Photo by AP

Dozens of kids are learning to wrestle under the watchful eye of former wrestler Michael Guerra. When asked why they chose wrestling in baseball-loving Cuba, they shout in unison: “To be like Mijain Lopez!” Lopez has won two Olympic gold medals in Greco-Roman wrestling, as well as five world championships, and is one of Cuba’s most heralded and popular athletes.The Kid Chocolate Hall where they normally train is closed for repairs so their instructor moved the class to a nearby park. The hall is named for Cuban professional boxer, Sergio Eligio Sardinias-Montalbo, who was known as Kid Chocolate and Cuban Bon Bon. He was the world junior lightweight champion from 1931 to 1933. The children are candidates to enter the Sports Initiation School, the first stage of sports training in Cuba, and specialize in wrestling. Brian Rojas, 11, and Yeney Pedroso, 14, know what they want from wrestling. They say they want "to be someone in life and travel the world" like their hero.

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