Excerpted from today's New York Times:
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LOS ANGELES, Aug. 19 — Two Cuban gymnasts taking part in the World Gymnastics Championships in California have defected and are seeking asylum in the United States, their lawyer said today.
The two — Michel Brito Ferrer, 24, and Charles León Tamayo, 22 — "walked away with only the clothes on their back," the lawyer, Luis Carrillo, said.
Neither is married, but they left behind parents and other relatives, Mr. Carrillo said.
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Full article can be found at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/20/national/20DEFE.html
I had described Charles León 's dazzling performace during the Pan Am gymnastics competition in Parque de Este August 2-3 and how he drew visible/audible audience support and how he managed to finish the set despite painful injuiry.
León is definitely one bright athlete with discipline and perserverance.
I wish him the best in his newly adopted country.
(10)
Cuban defection
