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In this Oct. 18, 2014 photo, two young wrestlers compete during a practice session during a training session in an auxiliary gym, in Old Havana, Cuba. About 20 children are learning to wrestle under the watchful eye of former wrestler Michael Guerra. When asked why they chose wrestling in baseball-loving Cuba, they shout in unison: To be like Mijain Lopez! Lopez has won two Olympic gold medals in Greco-Roman wrestling, as well as five world championships, and is one of Cubas most heralded and popular athletes. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__22_]()
In this Oct. 16, 2014 photo, a young wrestler smiles for the camera while training at a park in Old Havana, Cuba. About 20 children are learning to wrestle in the park in Old Havana. When asked why they chose wrestling in baseball-loving Cuba, they shout in unison: ìTo be like Mijain Lopez!î Lopez has won two Olympic gold medals in Greco-Roman wrestling, as well as five world championships, and is one of Cubaís most heralded and popular athletes. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__1_]()
In his Oct. 15, 2014 photo, 8-year-old Yodimiler Arias, along with fellow wrestlers, listen to instruction from their teacher, in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. Yodimiler's mother said the U.S. flag motif wrestling suit was sent by her cousin in the United States. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__18_]()
In this Oct. 16, 2014 photo, young wrestlers Braimond Sanchez, from left, Raimel Lazaro and Junior Lazaro strike a pose for a photo, during a training session in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. About 20 children are learning to wrestle under the watchful eye of former wrestler Michael Guerra. When asked why they chose wrestling in baseball-loving Cuba, they shout in unison: To be like Mijain Lopez! Lopez has won two Olympic gold medals in Greco-Roman wrestling, as well as five world championships, and is one of Cubas most heralded and popular athletes. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__23_]()
In this Oct. 13, 2014 photo, a former member of the national wrestling team, instructor Michael Guerra, center, shows his students basic defensive moves, during a workout session in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. Under the watchful eye of the former wrestler, the children run, do squats and practice pins and other moves. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__28_]()
In this Oct. 14, 2014 photo, 11-year-old Brian Rojas, center standing in gray shorts, watches other wrestlers practice their maneuvers as he waits his turn to try, in an auxiliary gym, in Old Havana, Cuba. Brian says he knows what he wants from wrestling, ìto be someone in life and travel the worldî like his hero Mijain Lopez, who as won two Olympic gold medals in Greco-Roman wrestling, as well as five world championships, and is one of Cubaís most heralded and popular athletes. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__25_]()
In this Oct. 15, 2014 photo, students practice their sugar foot or staggered stance in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. About 20 children are learning to wrestle under the watchful eye of former wrestler Michael Guerra. When asked why they chose wrestling in baseball-loving Cuba, they shout in unison: To be like Mijain Lopez! Lopez has won two Olympic gold medals in Greco-Roman wrestling, as well as five world championships, and is one of Cubas most heralded and popular athletes. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__26_]()
In this Oct. 18, 2014 photo, young wrestlers listen to the teacher during a training session in an auxiliary gym, in Old Havana, Cuba. The children are candidates to enter the Sports Initiation School, the first stage of sports training in Cuba, and specialize in wrestling. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__30_]()
In this Oct. 14, 2014 photo, a young wrestler flips himself over backdropped by a wall with a Cuban flag and slogan that reads in Spanish; "We will be worthy of the Cuban sport," during a training session in an auxiliary gym, in Old Havana, Cuba. The boy is one of 20 children who are learning to wrestle under the watchful eye of Michael Guerra and will be a candidate to enter the Sports Initiation School, the first stage of sports training in Cuba, and specialize in wrestling. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__33_]()
In this Oct. 13, 2014 photo, young wrestlers form lines at the start of their practice in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. The children are candidates to enter the Sports Initiation School, the first stage of sports training in Cuba, and specialize in wrestling. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__32_]()
In this Oct. 13, 2014 photo, young wrestlers run their laps at the start of a training session in the park in Old Havana, Cuba. The Kid Chocolate Hall where they normally train is closed for repairs so their instructor moved the class to a nearby park. The hall is named for Cuban professional boxer, Sergio Eligio Sardinias-Montalbo, who was known as Kid Chocolate and Cuban Bon Bon. He was the world junior lightweight champion from 1931 to 1933. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__31_]()
In this Oct. 13, 2014 photo, 8-year-old Yodimiler Arias watches a fellow student and their teacher, in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. Yodimiler's mother said the U.S. flag motif wrestling suit was sent by her cousin in the United States. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__35_]()
In this Oct. 18, 2014 photo, two young boys wrestle during a training session in an auxiliary gym, in Old Havana, Cuba. The Kid Chocolate Hall where they normally train is closed for repairs so their teacher, former wrestler Michael Guerra, moved the class to a nearby park, but recently was able to convince the neighborhood sports director to lend him the space so the boys could wrestle on mats instead of the cement surface of the park. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__21_]()
In this Oct. 13, 2014 photo, Maibel Arias watches her son's wrestling practice at a park in Old Havana, Cuba. Arias doesnít miss any of her son Yodimilerís classes. ìHe likes it and I want to help him with his passion,î she said. Parents help clean up after the training session, carry supplies or collect money for transportation. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__34_]()
In this Oct. 18, 2014 photo, young wrestlers practice during a training session in an auxiliary gym, in Old Havana, Cuba. The Kid Chocolate Hall where they normally train is closed for repairs so their teacher, former wrestler Michael Guerra, moved the class to a nearby park, but recently was able to convince the neighborhood sports director to lend him the space so the boys could wrestle on mats instead of the cement surface of the park. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__20_]()
In this Oct. 15, 2014 photo, young wrestlers wrap up their practice session with wheelbarrow pushups in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. The children are candidates to enter the Sports Initiation School, the first stage of sports training in Cuba, and specialize in wrestling. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)![Cuba_Young_Wrestlers__24_]()
In this Oct. 16, 2014 photo, Junior Lazaro, left, stretches in preparation for a wrestling training session in a park in Old Havana, Cuba. The Kid Chocolate Hall where they normally train is closed for repairs so their instructor moved the class to a nearby park. The hall is named for Cuban professional boxer, Sergio Eligio Sardinias-Montalbo, who was known as Kid Chocolate and Cuban Bon Bon. He was the world junior lightweight champion from 1931 to 1933. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)Cuban kids learn to wrestle on the streets of old Havana
About 20 children are learning to wrestle in the park in Old Havana and when asked why they chose wrestling in baseball-loving Cuba, they shout in unison: "To be like Mijain Lopez!"
Move Forward
- Cuban kids learn to wrestle on the streets of old Havana
