Media Articles

Cubano a Conquistar el canal de la Mancha

Diario Las Americas
Publicado el 04-09-2009

Contra 21 millas, oleaje y aguas heladas

Por Luis P. López

Un cubano de la playa de Guanabo en la Habana, llegado a Miami en 1995 y hoy vecino de Key Biscayne, debiera despertar repentinas curiosidad y admiración en Miami y sus alrededores cuando intente este verano peligrosa empresa. De lograrla, la hazaña también debiera ser vista con especial interés en buena parte de Estados Unidos y América Latina.

Boris Fernández, de 35 años, se está preparando para lanzarse a nadar este verano entre Dover (Inglaterra) y Cap Gris Nez (Francia) sobre las gélidas y ocasionalmente enfurecidas olas del Canal de la Mancha, donde braceará sin descanso por 21 millas y por alrededor de 14 horas, algunas de ellas de noche.

¿La recompensa si hace el cruce? “Un diploma”, dice Fernández encogiéndose de hombros. “Lo hago porque para mí se trata de un reto. Era algo que tenía en mente hace tiempo. El año pasado decidí no aplazarlo más”.

Fernández, que compite organizadamente desde 1983, fue campeón de natación y triatlón (natación, ciclismo y carrera a pie) en Cuba. En Estados Unidos fue miembro repetidamente del equipo nacional de triatlón. Hoy es instructor de natación y triatlón.

Actualmente el atleta se entrena con intensidad durante varias horas cada día (“40,000 yardas a la semana”, dice) mientras espera noticia del organismo que supervisa el evento y anunciará la fecha del cruce. Otros candidatos han solicitado participar.

Desde 1875) miles de hombres y mujeres de diferentes países han intentado cruzar a nado el canal. Sólo 670 de ellos (456 hombres y 214 mujeres) han completado la trayectoria, según la enciclopedia por internet Wikipedia. Se entiende que otro cubano, Johnny Cortiñas, intentó sin éxito el cruce a comienzos de los años 50. “Yo voy determinado a ser el primer cubano en cruzar el Canal de la Mancha”, dijo Fernández.

Al preguntársele cómo se siente ante el desafío que le aguarda, Fernández respondió: “Obviamente, me estoy preparando física y, sobre todo, mentalmente. Parte de mi entrenamiento es permanecer dos horas en cámara de oxigeno en el Lucas Spa de Miami Beach. Cuando no me estoy entrenando trato de no agobiarme con lo que se avecina, de no pensar mucho en el asunto. No quiero que eso pueda quitarme el sueño. Lo que quiero es que acabe de llegar el día de tirarme al agua”.

Fernández hereda de sus padres, José y Gladys, quien permanece en Cuba, su afición por el deporte, particularmente la natación, en que Fernández padre fue entrenador del equipo nacional cubano y hoy es instructor de la misma disciplina del Rocksway Swimming Team que practica regularmente en la piscina del Dade Community College en Kendall.

Nadando en estilo libre, en traje de baño, cubierto por especial ungüento aceitoso aplicado al cuerpo y alimentándose trabajosamente con caldos y otros líquidos, Fernández batallará día y noche las aguas del Canal de la Mancha y sus temperaturas de 14-15 grados centígrados (57-58 Farenheit). La frialdad de las aguas ha sido causante de que la mayoría de los nadadores se den por vencidos antes de llegar a la meta. “No es tanto el oleaje y la distancia”, dice Fernández. “Es el frío. Es tanto que ni se ven tiburones”. Para irse familiarizando lo más posible, Fernández se entrena regularmente en vecina piscina de agua termal.

El costo del viaje para esta ambiciosa aventura lo absorbe en parte la Fundación Manos del Sur, organización no lucrativa que, según la dirigente Paulina Montes, especialmente ayuda a niños que viven en extrema pobreza en América Latina. Otra parte del costo lo absorbe José Fernández, padre de Boris, que lo acompañará en el viaje. “Es un sacrificio económico, pero hay que hacerlo”, dijo.

Allá en Cuba, de convertirse en realidad el intrépido sueño de Boris Fernández de nadar de Inglaterra a Francia, se vería sería probablemente envidiado por una legión de compatriotas ansiosos de arribar --por tierra, mar o aire, a cualquier riesgo y precio-- a orillas de libertad más asequibles que las del Canal de la Mancha.

¿Y qué le diría Boris Fernández a un compatriota varado en la isla que de alguna manera se entera del proyecto en ciernes y, presa de la desesperanza, considere cruzar a nado hacia cercana y a la vez distante orilla?

“Perseverancia”, se limitó Fernández a responder, desalentando cualquier descabellada idea.•

Fernandez training for big swim

BY JIM VARSALLONE

jvarsallone@MiamiHerald.com

Key Biscayne's Boris Fernandez is hoping to be the first Cuban to swim the English Channel.

Fernandez, 35, a well-known local triathlete with a strong swimming background, will test the channel in the summer. The distance from Dover, England, to Cap Gris Nez, France, is about 21 miles.

Less than 10 percent have completed the grueling swim, but Fernandez is confident.

A competitive swimmer since 1983, Fernandez placed second in the backstroke at the Cuban Nationals in 1990. He won his first triathlon in 2002.

Among his triathlon bests, he was fourth in 2004 and 16th in 2003 at the USAT National Championships. He also qualified for the USAT national team twice (2004 and 2005).

Manos Del Sur, a local nonprofit, is sponsoring the swim to raise money for projects in Haiti and Nicaragua.

For information about Fernandez, the organization and the swim, visit manosdel sur.org and tri-boris.com.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/959257.html

Fernandez aims for Channel swim

By Sharon Robb |South Florida Sun-Sentinel

January 1, 2009

The more Boris Fernandez read about other swimmers attempting to swim the English Channel, the more he wanted to do it.

"A few years ago I read about a swimmer describing how hard it was and it just stuck in my mind," Fernandez said. "I just thought one day I will do that."

The former Cuban national team swimmer and elite triathlete with more than 50 titles hopes to swim the English Channel, the Holy Grail of open-water swims, in July. If successful, he will be the first Cuban to complete the swim.

According to Bob Duenkel, curator of the International Swimming Hall of Fame Museum in Fort Lauderdale, no Cuban-born swimmer has successfully completed the 20 ½ -mile swim from Shakespeare Beach in Dover to Cap Gris Nez, France, in Channel Swimming Association history.

Fernandez, 35, who lives on Key Biscayne and competes for the Davie-based Runner's Depot Racing Team, started training in November.

Fernandez has been swimming 50,000 yards a week to prepare for the channel swim that many fail to complete because of its treacherous boat traffic, diesel fumes from passing cruise ships and barges, man-o-war, oil slicks and challenging currents in cold water.

A handful of South Florida swimmers have completed the channel swim, including Gail Rice, John Ceraolo, Bonnie Schwartz, Stella Taylor and Chris Derks.

"He is always in the water now," said friend and training partner Carlos Dolabella of Key Biscayne. "He is swimming 30-plus miles a week. Yesterday, I did a set in the pool with him and my arms still hurt bad."

This weekend, Fernandez will compete in back-to-back open-water swims. He will swim the 5K race on Saturday at the 39th annual ISHOF Fort Lauderdale Rough Water Swim off Fort Lauderdale beach. Olympic gold medalist swimmers Brendan Hansen and Rowdy Gaines will serve as hosts of the state's oldest open-water swim.

On Sunday, Fernandez will swim the 20th Delray Beach Ocean Rescue Open Mile Swim off Anchor Park Municipal Beach. Three weeks later on Jan. 31, he will participate in the Swim Around Key Biscayne, the first of several fundraisers.

As an added motivation to complete the channel swim, he is calling it "Swim for the Kids" in hopes of raising $150,000 for Manos del Sur, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide children living in poverty in Latin America with more opportunities.

"It's not only about me," said Fernandez, a competitive swimmer since age 10. In 1990 he was second in the backstroke at the Cuban Nationals and was an Olympic hopeful.

"I know I have a lot of work, and my biggest concern is the cold water and hypothermia," Fernandez said. "That's why I have to find cold water and go train in it. I think this is a good time for me to dedicate one year to swimming, and what better swim than the English Channel?"

When he emigrated from Cuba 14 years ago with the help of his father, a former national swim team coach who was granted political asylum in Miami, Fernandez thought his athletic career was over. He started competing in triathlons in 1999.

"I come from a swimming family, and it's always on my mind," Fernandez said. "Outside of the Olympics, the English Channel is the biggest swim. This will be my Olympics."

Key Biscayne athlete wins Florida triathlon title

BY JIM VARSALLONE

jvarsallone@MiamiHerald.com

Boris Fernandez of Key Biscayne won the Florida Triathlon State Championship on Saturday in Cypress Gardens. He completed the 600-meter swim, 10-mile bike and 3.1-mile run in 53 minutes, 39 seconds.

Fernandez -- second from the water, 20 seconds behind Eric Christensen of Oviedo City -- was followed closely by Orlando's Andrea Ugazio and Carlos Dolabella of Key Biscayne.

Fernandez took the lead on the bike ride before the halfway point. Dolabella had Fernandez in view until there was less than a mile to go, when Dolabella's bike slipped on the wet road.

''I really thought me and Boris were going to finish one and two until the unexpected happened,'' Dolabella wrote in an e-mail. ``I crashed pretty bad and lost close to a minute there. I am glad I didn't brake any bones and was able to finish in a respectable fourth place.''

Fernandez, who sealed the victory with the run, said he was surprised when he did not see Dolabella during the run.

''All of a sudden, Carlos disappeared,'' Fernandez said.

``I came to win the state championship, and I finished my season on top. Mission accomplished. Now I will start thinking about next year.''

Ugazio was second in 55:18. Eddie Branigan of Vero Beach was third in 55:38 and Dolabella was fourth in 56:08.

Angela Hygema of Dania Beach finished second in the women's race in 1:00:32; Holly Petrak of Tampa was first in 59:55. Hygema, who is the time-trial state champion, had the fastest bicycle split in 24:29.

''I thought it was going to be enough to win especially because I also had a good swim,'' Hygema said, ``but Holly flew by me on the run.''

Key Biscayne's Renan Dolabella won the state series title in his age group, men 20-24. Renan is the founder and president of FIU's Tri-Panther Club.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/other/story/729779.html

Boris Fernandez wins KB Trilogy 2, 2008

Key Biscayne Islander

July 20th, 2008

With not so good conditions for racing because of the 15 miles per hour SE winds and high humidity, Key Biscayne resident Boris Fernandez won the 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike and 5 km run this past Sunday at Crandon Park with the time of 48m01secs making it 2 wins in 8 days. Again his main rivals were former American Champion John Reback of North Palm Beach who finished 2nd with the time of 49m11secs and Spaniard Miguel Telez who finished 3rd with the time of 49m14secs. Colombian Andres Castillo Latorre finished 4th with 49m40secs. For the past 5 races Fernandez, Reback and Telez fought each other for the highest spot on the podium. The dispute will continue on August 3rd at the 17th Annual Huntington Disease Triathlon and August 24th at the final Trilogy race, both at Crandon Park.

This time the race unfolded different than the Trilogy #1 four weeks ago. Fernandez who came second out of the water behind veteran Carlos Dolabella took control of the race by braking away on the bike portion. "I felt strong today and I attacked Dolabella and Telez knowing that this time Reback was not close enough. It paid off and I just managed my lead during the run" said Boris after the race.

On the women side Monica Rossi Montero of Miami had her best race of the season winning with the time of 57m46secs ahead of 2nd place Gina Donatto of Boca Raton who scored 58m52secs. Isabel Oliva of Miami finished 3rd with the time of 59m23secs. "I am very happy with my improvement. After Boris Fernandez started coaching me I became a much better triathlete and a lot more confident on my performance. Thank you coach!" said Monica with the biggest smile.

Also from Key Biscayne, Renan Dolabella won his age group 20-24 with his personal best of 53m16secs. Renan who now also train with Fernandez wants to score another PR on the last Trilogy in 4 weeks. "The Tri-Boris team is a winning team and is awesome to train with them." said Renan. His father Carlos finished strong in 7th place overall with the time of 51m16secs after coming back form a calf injury.

Over 900 athletes took part on Sunday's race the biggest crowd ever at Crandon Park. "Triathlon is now bigger than ever and our races provide the best scoring system in the Nation and that's why the Trilogy in Key Biscayne is so popular." said Multirace.com owner and race director Robert Childers.