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Dayron Robles
Dayron Robles
from Wikipedia

Dayron Robles (born 19 November 1986) is a Cuban track and field athlete who specialises in the 110 metre hurdles.

Key Information

He won his first major medal (a silver) in the 60 metres hurdles at the 2006 World Indoor Championships. He finished the 2006 season having improved his outdoor best to 13 seconds and become the Central American and Caribbean Games champion. Pan American gold came the following year in which also set a meet record of 12.92 seconds at the 2007 IAAF World Athletics Final – making him the joint fourth fastest ever.

He reached the pinnacle of his event in 2008 by setting a world record of 12.87 seconds in June at the Golden Spike Ostrava meet,[3][4] and winning an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in 12.93 seconds. Injury ruled him out for much of 2009, but he returned strongly with a championship record win at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships. He was disqualified at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 110 metres hurdles, for violation of rule 163.2, obstruction.

Career

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He won his first international medal at the 2004 World Junior Championships in Athletics, taking the silver medal in the 110 m hurdles which was Cuba's only medal of the competition.[5] At the 2006 World Indoor Championships in Moscow he finished second with a new personal best time (indoor) of 7.46 seconds.[6][7] He improved upon this time with a run of 7.33 s at the 2008 PSD Bank Meeting – this was a Panamerican record and made him the second-fastest ever indoors, behind Colin Jackson.[8]

At the 2008 World Indoor Championships in Valencia he didn't advance from the heats due to fact that he stopped running, thinking that fellow hurdler Liu Xiang had made a false start. This was great disappointment for Robles, who had posted nine of the 11 fastest times of the winter season and was a favorite for winning the gold medal.[9]

At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, many anticipated a Robles and Liu showdown in the final, but Liu was forced to pull out injured in the opening heat due to tendinitis.[10] Robles went on to comfortably win the gold medal, posting a time of 12.93 s in the final.[11]

During the 2009 IAAF World Championships, Dayron Robles was forced out of the competition, not finishing his semi-final because of muscular injury. After recovering from his injury, he entered the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships. The 60 metres final was the first time in over two years that Robles had faced Liu and Terrence Trammell in the same race. Robles began the race slowly but his power and technique saw him overhaul Trammell in the second half of the race to finish in 7.34 seconds, the third quickest time ever over the distance. The win marked a return to form and he said his first indoor gold ahead of the American was as important to him as his Olympic victory two years earlier.[12]

After a season's best run of 13.12 seconds in the rain to win at the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting, he secured his first 2010 IAAF Diamond League victory at the Golden Gala with a time of 13.14 seconds,[13] followed by a win at the Memorial Primo Nebiolo later that month.[14] His best run of the season (13.01) at the Athletissima meet made him the second fastest man that year behind David Oliver, but an injury curtailed yet another season. He returned to action in May 2011 and won at the Grand Prix Région Guadeloupe meet.[15]

Robles finished first in the 110 m hurdles at the 2011 World Athletics Championships, with a time of 13.14 seconds. However, the result was invalidated, as replays showed Robles reaching out to impede the progress of competitor Liu Xiang, using his hand to knock Xiang's hand.[16][17]

Achievements

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Personal bests

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Event Time (seconds) Venue Date
50 meters hurdles 6.39 Stockholm, Sweden 21 February 2008
60 metres hurdles 7.33 Düsseldorf, Germany 8 February 2008
110 metres hurdles 12.87 Ostrava, Czech Republic 12 June 2008
  • All information from IAAF Profile[18]

Competition record

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Robles leading the 110 meters hurdles final at the Beijing Olympics
Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  Cuba
2003 World Youth Championships Sherbrooke, Canada 6th 110 m hurdles (91.4 cm) 13.91
2004 World Junior Championships Grosseto, Italy 2nd 110 m hurdles 13.77 (wind: -0.6 m/s)
2005 Central American and Caribbean Championships Nassau, Bahamas 2nd 110 m hurdles 13.41 w (wind: +2.6 m/s)
2006 World Indoor Championships Moscow, Russia 2nd 60 m hurdles 7.46 s PB
Central American and Caribbean Games Cartagena, Colombia 1st 110 m hurdles 13.12 s CR
2007 Panamerican Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1st 110 m hurdles 13.25 s
World Championships in Athletics Osaka, Japan 4th 110 m hurdles 13.15 s
IAAF World Athletics Final Stuttgart, Germany 1st 110 m hurdles 12.92 s CR
2008 Golden Spike Meet Ostrava, Czech Republic 1st 110 m hurdles 12.87 s WR
Olympic Games Beijing, PR China 1st 110 m hurdles 12.93 s
2009 Central American and Caribbean Championships Havana, Cuba 1st 110 m hurdles 13.18 w (wind: +2.5 m/s)
2010 World Indoor Championships Doha, Qatar 1st 60 m hurdles 7.34
2011 2011 World Championships in Athletics Daegu, South Korea 110 m hurdles DQ
Pan American Games Guadalajara, Mexico 1st 110 m hurdles 13.10
2012 Olympic Games London, United Kingdom 110 m hurdles DNF

Track records

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As of 7 September 2024, Robles holds the following track records for 110 metres hurdles.

Location Time Windspeed
m/s
Date Notes
Alcalá de Henares 13.28 +0.2 24/06/2006
Beijing 12.93 +0.1 21/08/2008
Cáceres 13.34 –0.7 28/06/2006
Cartagena 13.12 +0.7 26/07/2006
Dubnica nad Váhom 12.95 –1.7 07/09/2008
Guadalajara 13.10 +1.6 28/10/2011
Linz 13.05 –1.2 11/09/2007
Ostrava 12.87 +0.9 12/06/2008 This was the world record for 4 years 3 months
and remains the Cuban record.
Reims 13.09 –0.4 30/06/2010
Paris 12.88 +0.5 18/07/2008
Sotteville-lès-Rouen 13.18 +1.8 08/07/2013
Stockholm 12.91 +0.2 22/07/2008
Tangier 13.28 NOT KNOWN 12/07/2009
Turin 13.08 +1.2 12/06/2010
Villeneuve d'Ascq 12.96 –0.6 27/06/2008

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Dayron Robles (born 19 November 1986) is a retired Cuban athlete who specialized in the . Robles established himself as one of the premier hurdlers of his era by setting the in the with a time of 12.87 seconds on 12 June 2008 at the Golden Spike Ostrava meeting in the . This mark, which earned him the IAAF's Male Performance of the Year award, stood as the global standard until surpassed by in 2012. Later that year, he claimed Olympic gold at the Games, finishing in 12.93 seconds ahead of David Payne and David Oliver. His career included additional accolades such as gold medals in the at the , along with a world indoor title in the in 2006. However, Robles encountered significant controversy at the 2011 World Championships in , where he crossed the finish line first but was disqualified following a protest by for obstructing Liu Xiang during a collision at the final hurdle, resulting in the gold being awarded to Jason Richardson. Robles publicly attributed the decision in part to bias against his Cuban nationality, highlighting tensions in international athletics adjudication.

Early Life

Introduction to Athletics and Training

Dayron Robles, born on November 19, 1986, in , , grew up in an environment influenced by familial athletic heritage, as his uncle Eulogio Robles had represented in the 400-meter hurdles during the . Like many Cuban youth, Robles engaged in multiple sports from a young age, including wrestling, , , , , , and , before transitioning to around age 10. This multi-sport exposure, typical in 's national sports development pathway, allowed initial assessment of physical aptitudes before specialization. Upon entering athletics, Robles followed the system's emphasis on broad event participation in early stages to identify strengths, competing in various disciplines as trainers evaluated his potential. His physical attributes—standing 1.90 meters tall with explosive power—quickly aligned with demands, leading to an early focus on the 110-meter hurdles. athletics at this youth level, often initiated through local clubs and Escuela de Iniciación Deportiva Escolar (EIDE) programs, prioritizes technical drills, speed development, and strength conditioning under state oversight, fostering disciplined progression from fundamental skills to event-specific techniques. Robles' trainers recognized his aptitude early, dubbing him a "flying hurdling baby" by his mid-teens due to precocious speed and clearance ability. Training regimens in Cuba's youth athletics pipeline emphasize high-volume sprint work, , and hurdle pattern drills to build stride efficiency and reaction time, with Robles adhering to this structured approach that integrated daily sessions of 4–6 hours focusing on , hurdle negotiation, and recovery . By age 15, he had advanced to provincial competitions, refining a seven-step approach to the first hurdle suited to his , which became a hallmark of his technique amid Cuba's resource-constrained but methodically rigorous coaching environment. This foundational phase laid the groundwork for his rapid ascent, supported by national federation resources that channel promising talents into specialized camps.

Athletic Career

Breakthrough Performances (2006–2007)

In 2006, Dayron Robles emerged on the international senior stage by securing the in the 60m hurdles at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in , marking his first major global podium finish. Later that year, he claimed gold in the 110m hurdles at the in , where he broke the Games record previously held by compatriot Anier García. These results highlighted Robles' rapid improvement from junior levels, with his outdoor personal best over 110m hurdles advancing into the low 13-second range by season's end. The 2007 season solidified Robles' breakthrough with consistent sub-13.20 performances, beginning with a seasonal debut of 13.35 in . He won gold at the in Rio de Janeiro on July 29, clocking 13.25 seconds amid rainy conditions and a +0.4 m/s wind, outperforming American David Payne. At the World Championships in , Robles placed fourth in the 110m hurdles final, recording a time that positioned him among the event's elite despite the competitive field led by Liu Xiang's 12.95 victory. Robles concluded the year with a world-leading 12.92 at the IAAF World Athletics Final in on September 23, tying for the fourth-fastest time in history at that point and defeating David Payne by 0.16 seconds. This performance, achieved with zero wind assistance, established his personal best and signaled his emergence as a top contender in the 110m hurdles, setting the stage for further dominance.

2008 Olympic Triumph and World Record

On June 12, 2008, at the Golden Spike Ostrava meeting in the Czech Republic, Dayron Robles established a new world record in the men's 110 metres hurdles with a time of 12.87 seconds, surpassing the previous mark of 12.88 seconds set by Liu Xiang in 2004. This performance, achieved in his third race of the season under legal wind conditions, positioned Robles as the leading contender for Olympic gold. Entering the in as the world record holder, Robles advanced through the heats and semifinals with relative ease, recording 13.33 seconds in the first round and 13.12 seconds in the semifinals. The final, held on August 18, 2008, saw the defending champion Xiang withdraw after a in the opening heat due to an injury, clearing the path for Robles. In the final, Robles delivered a dominant performance, winning in 12.93 seconds ahead of American silver medalist David Payne (13.17 seconds) and bronze medalist David Oliver (13.18 seconds). His time, while not surpassing his or the Olympic record of 12.91 seconds held by , marked Cuba's second Olympic gold in the event and showcased Robles' technical precision and speed, as he cleared all hurdles without clips. This victory solidified Robles' status as the preeminent hurdler of the era.

Post-2008 Competitions and Challenges (2009–2010)

Following his Olympic success, Robles opened the 2009 outdoor season with victories in several meets, including the in on July 10, where he recorded 13.17 seconds, and the DN Galan in on July 31, timing 13.11 seconds. However, at the 2009 World Championships in , he failed to finish his semi-final heat after clipping the third hurdle, attributed to a recurring injury that had hampered his preparations. In early 2010, Robles achieved a strong indoor performance by winning the 60 m hurdles gold at the World Indoor Championships in Doha on March 14, clocking a championship record of 7.34 seconds, the third-fastest time ever in the event. Transitioning to outdoors, he secured wins such as the Golden Spike Ostrava on May 27 with 13.12 seconds and the Athletissima meeting in Lausanne, where he ran 13.01 seconds. These results demonstrated partial recovery from prior muscular issues, though persistent injury concerns limited his consistency and prevented a return to world-record form during this period.

Injuries and Performance Decline (2011–2012)

In 2011, Robles initially showed signs of recovery from prior leg injuries that had sidelined him in late 2010, resuming full training in Havana by October of that year and expressing confidence for the season ahead. However, recurrent leg problems resurfaced, slowing his performance in the latter half of the year and limiting his ability to replicate earlier dominance, with no times approaching his personal best of 12.87 seconds from 2008. Despite this, he recorded competitive marks, including a 13.01-second victory in the 110 m hurdles at the Zurich Diamond League on August 30. At the World Championships in Daegu on August 29, he crossed the line first in 13.14 seconds but was later disqualified for obstruction, highlighting how physical limitations may have contributed to tactical errors amid ongoing recovery efforts. Entering 2012, Robles' leg injury persisted as a chronic issue, forcing him to withdraw from the World Indoor Championships in and prompting considerations of retirement by March, as the recurring pain hampered consistent training and competition readiness. A slight swelling in his left leg during training in early June led to a week's rest and absences from key meets like the adidas Grand Prix in New York. At the London Olympics, he advanced through the first round on August 7 with 13.33 seconds and the semifinals on with a season-best 13.10, but in the final on , he pulled up at the seventh hurdle due to a muscle injury, failing to finish and marking a sharp decline from his prior Olympic success. These setbacks reflected a broader erosion in performance, with no sub-13-second races and reduced event participation, underscoring the cumulative toll of injuries on his speed and endurance.

Controversies

2011 World Championships Disqualification

In the men's final at the , held on August 29 in , , Dayron Robles crossed the finish line first in a time of 13.17 seconds, ahead of China's Liu Xiang and the United States' Jason Richardson. During the race, Robles clipped the ninth hurdle with his trailing leg, causing him to stumble and make physical contact with Liu Xiang, who was immediately behind him; Liu fell to the track as a result but managed to finish second in 13.24 seconds before the disqualification was applied. The Chinese delegation promptly filed a alleging obstruction by Robles, citing International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rule 163.2, which prohibits any action that impedes another competitor. The track referee reviewed the incident and disqualified Robles, a decision upheld after the Cuban team lodged a counter- that was rejected by the jury of appeal. This elevated Richardson to gold, to silver, and Great Britain's Andy Turner—initially fourth in 13.33 seconds—to bronze. Robles publicly contested the ruling, asserting it stemmed from bias against Cuban athletes rather than a fair application of the rules, stating, "I was DQ'd because I'm ." The incident drew significant attention amid a series of disqualifications at the championships, including that of Jamaican sprinter earlier in the event for a , highlighting enforcement of technical regulations in high-stakes finals. Video footage of the race, reviewed by officials, confirmed the contact as the basis for the obstruction call, though Robles maintained it was an unintentional consequence of his stumble over the hurdle.

Retirement and Post-Athletic Life

Retirement in 2013

In January 2013, Dayron Robles announced his intention to sit out the entire competitive season, effectively signaling the end of his athletics career, due to ongoing frustrations with inadequate support from Cuban officials. His coach, Santiago Antúnez, stated that Robles had received insufficient attention for rehabilitation and training needs following chronic issues that dated back to 2008. Robles, then aged 26, had withdrawn from the 2012 Olympic final due to and failed to reclaim his dominant form despite prior world-record achievements. Robles formally requested and received his release from the Cuban national athletics team, citing neglect in addressing his repeated complaints about medical care and motivational decline amid persistent physical setbacks. Cuban authorities had prioritized other athletes, exacerbating his sense of abandonment after years of representing the nation at the highest levels. By early February, official confirmation came that Robles was no longer affiliated with the team, solidifying his retirement status. Attempts to resume competition independently later in 2013 were blocked by Cuban federation rules, which withheld authorization citing disciplinary and ethical concerns unrelated to his performance history. This decision prevented participation in events like the World Championships, closing any immediate path for a return under neutral or foreign auspices. Robles's exit highlighted tensions between elite athletes and state-controlled sports systems in , where individual grievances often clashed with collective priorities.

Entrepreneurship and Agriculture Ventures

Following his retirement from athletics in 2013, Dayron Robles established a private organic farm in the El Cotorro district of , , where he resides with his wife and two daughters. The venture focuses on agro-ecological crop production, emphasizing sustainable methods without synthetic inputs, and has been described as flourishing amid 's expanding opportunities. Robles's agricultural enterprise represents a shift to in Cuba's non-state , leveraging his post-athletic resources to cultivate and other produce on a small-scale operation. By , he actively managed the farm during periods of , planting furrows and harvesting crops, which provided both economic and personal fulfillment. This aligns with broader Cuban reforms permitting private farming cooperatives and individual enterprises since the , though output remains constrained by state controls on land and markets. In addition to , Robles has engaged in , operating Hostal Robles, a guesthouse or casa particular in that accommodates visitors and highlights his Olympic background. These ventures underscore his adaptation to Cuba's limited private business landscape, prioritizing self-sufficiency over reliance on state pensions for former athletes.

Achievements and Records

Personal Bests

Dayron Robles achieved his lifetime best of 12.87 seconds in the on 12 June 2008 in , , a performance that established a at the time and remains Cuba's national record. His indoor personal best in the is 7.33 seconds, recorded on 8 February 2008 in , , also a Cuban national record.
EventTimeDateLocation
110 m hurdles12.8712 June 2008,
60 m hurdles (i)7.338 February 2008Düsseldorf, Germany

World and Seasonal Records

Robles established the world record in the men's on 12 June 2008 at the Ostrava meeting in , , with a time of 12.87 seconds aided by a +0.6 m/s wind. This surpassed the previous record of 12.88 seconds set by Liu Xiang of on 11 2006 at the Good Luck meet. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF, now ) ratified the mark, which Robles held until of the United States lowered it to 12.80 seconds on 7 September 2012 at the in . This 2008 performance also constituted the seasonal world best for that year. Robles achieved another seasonal lead in 2009, clocking 12.92 seconds to win the Final in , , on 12 September. His efforts earned him the IAAF's Male Performance of the Year award for the 2008 world record. The 12.87 seconds remains Robles' lifetime best and the current Cuban national record.

Major Competition Results

Dayron Robles secured gold medals in several prestigious international events during his career, primarily in the 110 m hurdles and the indoor 60 m hurdles. His standout performance came at the in , where he won the 110 m hurdles in 12.93 seconds on , defeating Americans David Payne and David Oliver.
YearCompetitionEventPlacingTimeNotes
200660 m hurdlesSilver7.46 sMoscow,
2006110 m hurdlesGold12.92 sGames record,
2007110 m hurdlesGold13.25 sRio de Janeiro,
200860 m hurdlesGold7.33 sNational record, Valencia, Spain
2008110 m hurdlesGold12.93 sBeijing, China
2009110 m hurdlesDisqualified in final for , Berlin,
201060 m hurdlesGold7.41 sDoha,
2011110 m hurdlesGold13.10 sPan American Games record, Guadalajara, Mexico
2011110 m hurdles13.14 sFinished first but disqualified for collision with another athlete, Daegu,
Robles did not medal at the 2007 or 2011 World Championships due to the disqualifications noted, despite strong qualifying rounds in both. He also earned golds at regional events like the 2009 Central American and Caribbean Championships in 13.18 seconds, reinforcing his dominance in the .

References

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