Jamaica not the only ones to suffer from “athlete switch”

Photo: Orlando Ortego has switched his allegiance from Cuba to Spain and will miss the World Championships in Beijing, China. Ortega is the World leader in the 110m hurdles with a time of 12.94s. (Getty Images)

As the number of athletes switching their allegiance from Jamaica to some other country continues to grow and people come to grips with this new reality, it must be mentioned that there are other countries suffering a similar fate.

Cuba, near neighours of Jamaica, is also set to lose one of its top athlete’s to Spain. Orlando Ortega, who was seen as one of the favourites for the Men’s 110m Hurdles title at the World Champions in Beijing, China next month, will not compete for his native country. He will instead miss the championships because his transfer is not yet complete, but will be available for the Olympic Games next year.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Stockholm Diamond League Meeting on Thursday, Ortega who just turned 24 said, “I knew from the beginning it would be impossible to compete in Beijing, but I know I can compete at the Rio 2016 Games.”

Ortega is the current world leader in his event with a time of 12.94 done in Paris on July 4 and would certainly be a favourite going into the World Championships had he been competing.

While Jamaica has lost what is considered some of their “B” rated sprinters, Cuba is set to lose their best sprint hurdler since Dayron Robles who won Olympic Gold in Beijing in 2008.