Hermes Ramírez

During the 1960s and 1970s Hermes Ramírez was one of the best track sprinters in Cuba, which saw him win multiple medals at international competitions. Ramírez first major success came in 1967 at the Pan American Games when he won silver in the 4 × 100 metres relay (with Pablo Montes, Juan Morales, and the non-Olympian Félix Eugellés) and bronze in the 100 metres. The results earned him a place on the Cuban Olympic team for the 1968 Mexico City Games where he won silver in the 4 × 100 metres relay with Morales, Montes, and Enrique Figuerola. Ramírez also ran in the 100 metres in Mexico City, reaching the semi-finals. In his quarter-final heat in the event he ran 10 seconds to equal Figuerola’s Cuban national record.

In 1970 Ramírez won one of each medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Panamá, with gold in the 4 × 100 metres relay, silver in the 100 metres, and bronze in the 200 metres. The following year he had more success at the Pan American Games, winning another silver in the 4 × 100 metres relay, along with Montes, Morales, and the non-Olympian Bárbaro Bandomo. He also ran in the 100 metres, finishing fifth. Ramírez returned to the Olympics for the 1972 München Games, once again running the relay. This time, however, the Cuban quartet struggled to match their previous Olympic performance and just scraped through their heat before being eliminated in the semi-finals.

At the 1975 Pan American Games Ramírez won another silver in the 4 × 100 metres relay, this time with compatriots Pablo Montes, José Triana, and Alejandro Casañas. He also had individual success at the Games, winning bronze in the 100 metres. The following year Ramírez competed at his third and final Olympics, again making up the Cuban quartet for the 4 × 100 metres relay in Montréal. They vastly improved on their disappointing performance from the München Games, but came away without a medal after finishing fifth.

Personal Best: 100 – 10.10 (1968).