Paris was Franco’s fifth and final international appearance of 2024 – an Olympic year – which, for Cuban archers, is a busy calendar. For many professionals on the global circuit, however, it would be considered relatively light.
“In our case, Cuban archers must train all year long for only a few competitions,” said the 33-year-old. “This can affect us psychologically, as we feel the pressure to prove that all the effort and preparation are worthwhile. My teammates and I strongly feel the need to take part in more international events, as that competitive exposure is key to reaching the highest level.”
“Despite all the challenges we face, we remain a strong, disciplined group of athletes capable of achieving great results. That resilience is, without a doubt, one of our greatest strengths.”
Franco is one of 18 archers based at Cuba’s National Training Centre – six recurve men, six recurve women, three compound men and three compound women. Although they rarely travel abroad, their training schedule is demanding, sometimes stretching for six to seven months before the next competition outside Cuba.
The Centre also serves as a technical hub, where archers from across the island connect with national team members for guidance on bow tuning and technique. Centralising training has, according to Franco, brought “significant development” – though coaching remains a challenge.
“The main challenge has been the loss of experienced coaches,” he said. “In the last five years, due to economic and political reasons, this has greatly affected us, reducing the recruitment of new talent.”
