Alexander Martínez

Alexander Martínez (born August 23, 1977 on Isla de la Juventud ) is a Swiss triple jumper of Cuban origin.

Martínez grew up in Cuba. From 1997 to 2000 he studied sport at the universities of Isla de la Juventud and Havana . He also did an intensive triple jump. In 1996, at the age of 19, he jumped 16 meters for the first time.

In August 1999 he met the Swiss Marion in Cuba . The two fell in love and Martínez decided to come to Switzerland in 2000. The two married on January 19, 2001. In the same year he jumped over 17 meters for the first time.

After his emigration he was unable to take part in any international championships. On February 22, 2006, he received Swiss citizenship , and on March 22, authorization to start in Switzerland was confirmed by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). He reached both the 2006 European Athletics Championships as well as in the 2007 World Athletics Championships top ten rankings.

The following two years Martinez could not build on these performances due to injury. In 2010 he qualified for the European Championships in Barcelona , but was eliminated from the qualification there.

Martínez is 1.81 m tall, weighs 81 kg and starts for the LC Zurich . He is a passionate salsa dancer, works as a dance instructor and is an athlete ambassador for the development aid organization Right to Play .

successes

• 1998: 3rd place Cuban Championships
• 2002: 2nd place in the Golden League Meeting Weltklasse Zürich ; 3rd place in the Golden League Meeting Paris ; 3rd place in the Golden League Meeting Brussels ; 3rd place IAAF Grand Prix Final Paris
• 2003: 1st place EAA Meeting Tallinn ; 3rd place Grand Prix meeting Athletissima Lausanne
• 2005: 1st place Grand Prix meeting Sheffield ; 1st place EAA Meeting Rovereto
• 2006: 9th place European Championships ; Swiss master; Swiss indoor champion
• 2007: 8th place world championships ; Swiss master
• 2009: Swiss champion

Personal best

• Triple jump: 17.51 ​​m, July 23, 2005 in Bern (5th place in the world best list 2005)
• Triple jump (as Swiss): 17.13 m, August 10, 2006 in Gothenburg , Swiss record

Web links

• Official website of Alexander Martinez
• Alexander Martínez in the database of World Athletics (English)