May 12, 2008 8:14 pm US/Eastern
Cuban Judo Champ Misses Return Flight Home
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
The Cuban judo team got on their return flight home from Miami after the Pan American Games, but without one of their star competitors aboard, further fueling speculation of a defection on Monday.
Yurisel Laborde, 28, was a no show as her team mates boarded a flight Monday afternoon at Miami International Airport. Laborde, a two-time world champion and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist, was considered by many to be a gold medal favorite at this year's Olympic summer games in Beijing. The general consensus is that she is in hiding, but one theory is that she is in Puerto Rico where she has her boyfriend waiting for her.
USA Judo president Jose Rodriguez said as far as he knows Laborde has not contacted federal authorities and her intentions are not known. She did leave a note to her team mates, reportedly saying she was sorry, but the head of the Cuban delegation did not reveal its contents. The general consensus is that she is in hiding, but one theory is that she is in Puerto Rico where she has her boyfriend waiting for her.
Comments that Rodriguez made to
CBS4's Ileana Varela might validate this report.
"We have no idea what her intentions [are]," said Rodriguez. "All we know is she may be deciding to go to another country. She may not actually stay here. For all we know she may be in Puerto Rico."
Even though one competitor refused to talk to CBS4's Ileana Varela regarding the incident, Laborde's coach did talk. Coach Ronaldo Veitia Valdivie says Laborde's apparent defection would be a great blow to her mother. If she did in fact defect, Laborde would not be able to compete with American athletes in the Beijing Games. She spent the weekend competing in the Pan American games in Miami before disappearing.
"We can't be crying over that," said Veitia. "This is something that happened yesterday, or the day before. With every passing hour it becomes the past; our focus now is the Olympics."
Last March, seven Cuban soccer players deserted their team at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Tampa.
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